tango

1 of 3

noun

tan·​go ˈtaŋ-(ˌ)gō 

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

Noun

Much had already been reported about his upbringing as a son of Italian immigrants to Argentina, his early plan to become a chemist, and his love of tango. —Paul Elie, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025

There is a four-man number, with a dash of the male-male partnering traditional in tango. —Brian Seibert, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025

Verb

Get The Recipe 14 of 30 Harvest Punch Give fresh apples and cinnamon time to tango so that all of their rich flavors can blend together before pouring yourself a glass. —Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2025

Francis does love the dance – in 2014, thousands of Catholics tangoed in St. Peter’s Square to honor his birthday. —Molly Jackson, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2025

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

Rhymes for tango

• mango
• chenango
• shenango

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