tango

[ tang-goh ]

noun

, plural tan·gos.

1. a ballroom dance of Latin American origin, danced by couples, and having many varied steps, figures, and poses.
2. music for this dance.
3. a word used in communications to represent the letter T.

verb (used without object)

, tan·goed, tan·go·ing.

1. to dance the tango.

Tango

¹

/ ˈtæŋɡəʊ /

noun

1. communications a code word for the letter t

tango

²

/ ˈtæŋɡəʊ /

noun

1. a Latin American dance in duple time, characterized by long gliding steps and sudden pauses
2. a piece of music composed for or in the rhythm of this dance

verb

1. intr to perform this dance

tango

1. A sensual ballroom dance that originated in South America in the early twentieth century.

Derived Forms

• ˈtangoist, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tango¹

First recorded in 1910–15; from Latin American Spanish, possibly from a Niger-Congo language such as Ibibio tamgu “to dance”

Word History and Origins

Origin of tango¹

C20: from American Spanish, probably of Niger-Congo origin; compare Ibibio tamgu to dance

Example Sentences

He used a musical analogy: “The distance between the tango and salsa is enormous, but it’s all recognized as Latin American music,” he said.

From New York Times

He and Jones came joint second on the leaderboard on Saturday after performing the tango to Abba's Money, Money, Money.

From BBC

On Saturday night, he and Jones performed a tango to the Abba song "Money, Money, Money" on the Strictly dancefloor with a desk as a part of the set.

From BBC

What endures is the rasping byplay, the soaring exasperation, the tango of opposing temperaments finding fleeting common ground.

From Los Angeles Times

At that point in his career, Rodriquez’s routine after sinking an important putt was to throw his short-brimmed straw Panama hat over the hole and do a one-man tango around the green.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• disco
• samba
• tango
• waltz