large west African tree having large palmately lobed leaves and axillary cymose panicles of small white flowers and one-winged seeds; yields soft white to pale yellow wood
"The ancient samba provided shade in the village square while its valuable light-colored wood was used to build new houses."
music composed for dancing the samba
"The lively rhythm of the carnival was driven by a fast-paced samba that had everyone on their feet."
a lively ballroom dance from Brazil
"The couple moved gracefully to the rhythm of the samba, showcasing their skill in the lively Brazilian ballroom dance."
a form of canasta using three decks of cards and six jokers
"The card group played a quick game of samba before the tournament finals began."
A Brazilian ballroom dance or dance style.
"The couple moved gracefully across the floor, executing a lively samba during the evening's carnival celebration."
In plain English: Samba is a lively Brazilian dance and music style known for its fast, rhythmic beat that people often do during big celebrations like Carnival.
"The crowd danced with energy to hear the lively samba music at the carnival parade."
Usage: Samba refers to an energetic Brazilian dance characterized by its distinctive rhythmic bounce and hip movement, often performed during Carnival celebrations. It is frequently confused with the similarly named musical genre but specifically denotes the physical act of dancing rather than just listening to the music.
dance the samba
"The couple moved to the rhythm of the drums as they danced the samba across the wooden floor."
To dance the samba.
"The crowd cheered as she stepped onto the floor to samba during the carnival parade."
The word samba comes directly from the Brazilian Portuguese term for the dance and music style itself. It was borrowed into English from that variety of Portuguese, which traces its roots back to a Bantu language spoken in Africa.