flamenco

[ flah-meng-koh, fluh- ]

noun,plural fla·men·cos.
  1. a style of dancing, characteristic of the Andalusian Roma, that is strongly rhythmic and involves vigorous actions, as clapping the hands and stamping the feet.

  2. a style of instrumental or vocal music originating in southern Spain and typically of an intensely rhythmic, improvisatory character, performed by itself or as an accompaniment to flamenco dancing.

adjective
  1. Also flamencan. of or like the music and dances of the Andalusian Roma: flamenco rhythms.

Origin of flamenco

1
First recorded in 1895–1900; from Spanish flamenco “pertaining to the Andalusian Roma,” literally, Fleming1 (in the sense “a native of Flanders”); the sense shift is variously explained

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British Dictionary definitions for flamenco

flamenco

/ (fləˈmɛŋkəʊ) /


nounplural -cos
  1. a type of dance music for vocal soloist and guitar, characterized by elaborate melody and sad mood

  2. the dance performed to such music

Origin of flamenco

1
from Spanish: like a gipsy, literally: Fleming, from Middle Dutch Vlaminc Fleming

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012