rumba
rumba Lexical Profile
rumba Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A rhythmic, syncopated dance of Afro-Cuban origin characterized by expressive hip and torso movements, or a stylized ballroom dance adaptation of it.
"The dancers captivated the judges with a graceful, slow-tempo rumba across the ballroom floor."
A piece of music or musical style with a complex polyrhythmic beat in quadruple time, composed for or accompanying this dance.
"The percussion ensemble played a lively traditional rumba using conga drums and claves."
• verb
To dance the rumba.
"Couples rumbaed late into the evening under the lanterns on the terrace."
Word Nuance & Usage
Also spelled 'rhumba', especially when referring to the stylized international ballroom dance rather than the traditional Afro-Cuban folkloric music and dance.
• Rhymes for rumba
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 19th century from Cuban Spanish 'rumba', meaning 'party' or 'carousel', likely derived from Spanish 'rumbo' ('course' or 'pomp') or influenced by West African Bantu languages.