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Definition of bellydance

bellydance

/ˈbɛl.iˌdæns/
bel · ly · dance
Plural:bellydances
•
Past Simple:bellydanced
•
Past Participle:bellydanced
•
Present Participle:bellydancing
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bellydance Lexical Profile

bellydance Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

An expressive traditional Middle Eastern and North African dance art form characterized by complex, fluid, and articulated movements of the hips, abdomen, and torso.

Example

"She enrolled in a weekly class to learn the traditional techniques and rhythms of bellydance."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for bellydance

• verb

1

To perform a bellydance by executing rhythmic, isolated movements of the hips and torso.

Example

"The performers began to bellydance to the lively beat of the traditional hand drums."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for bellydance

• Nearby Words

belly
bellyache
bellybutton
bellydance
bellydancer
bellyflop
bellyful

Word Origin & Etymology

A closed compound of 'belly' and 'dance', coined in the late 19th century as a loan translation of the French phrase 'danse du ventre' to describe traditional Middle Eastern and North African solo dances.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Bellydance. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/bellydance
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