tango

1 of 3

noun

tan·​go ˈtaŋ-(ˌ)gō How to pronounce tango (audio)
plural tangos
1
: a ballroom dance of Latin American origin in ²/₄ time with a basic pattern of step-step-step-step-close and characterized by long pauses and stylized body positions
also : the music for this dance
2
: interaction marked by a lack of straightforwardness
the suspect's tango with police

tango

2 of 3

verb

tangoed; tangoing; tangos

intransitive verb

: to dance the tango

Tango

3 of 3

communications code word

used as a code word for the letter t

Examples of tango in a Sentence

Noun The band played a tango. Verb He's trying to learn how to tango.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Joey Graziadei and Jenna's Argentine tango, as well as Chandler Kinney and Brandon's Viennese waltz, received 29 out of 30 and landed them on the top of the leaderboard. Calie Schepp, EW.com, 30 Oct. 2024 There is a tango opera onstage, a tarot parlor in the back room, and mysteries revealed upstairs. Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press, 11 Oct. 2024
Verb
Oakland baseball almost always tangoed with tension between supporters and ownership—but not with players. Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 26 Sep. 2024 Yesterday’s Boeing purchases might have been a not-so-subtle reminder to the EU and Airbus that two can tango at the tariff game. Brendan Ahern, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for tango 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

American Spanish

First Known Use

Noun

1913, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1913, in the meaning defined above

Communications Code Word

1952, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tango was in 1913

Dictionary Entries Near tango

Cite this Entry

“Tango.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tango. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

tango

noun
tan·​go
ˈtaŋ-gō
plural tangos
: a ballroom dance of Latin-American origin to music in ²⁄₄ time and marked by pauses between steps and a variety of body postures
also : the music for a tango
tango verb

More from Merriam-Webster on tango

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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