bossa nova

bos·sa no·va | \ ˌbä-sə-ˈnō-və

How to pronounce bossa nova (audio)

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Definition of bossa nova

1 : popular music of Brazilian origin that is rhythmically related to the samba but with complex harmonies and improvised jazzlike passages

2 : a dance performed to bossa nova music

Examples of bossa nova in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This guitar’s rich tone is well-suited to many genres including classical, bossa nova, folk, flamenco, and softer rock n’ roll. — Popular Science, "Kid-friendly guitars for the aspiring young strummer," 21 Jan. 2020 The 6-member collective has created a sound that embraces bossa nova, dub and reggae, acid jazz, Latin jazz and electronica. — Alison Medley, Houston Chronicle, "Thievery Corporation brings sonic dreamscapes and reggae sound to Houston fans," 17 Nov. 2019 Performances for the event include Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly, an American and Celtic folk duo, and Bela Sarkozy, a solo jazz guitarist who combines elements of swing, bebop, Latin, bossa nova, and pop. — BostonGlobe.com, "As October approaches, Interfaith Social Services in," 26 Sep. 2019 Over the course of a meal, the restaurant’s soundtrack progressed by region and genre, sort of like a wine list, from France to Brazil, jazz to bossa nova and beyond. — Josie Sexton, The Denver Post, "Denver’s coolest new restaurant of 2019 is finally here — just a few days before the year ends," 20 Dec. 2019 Korkejian’s songs are folk-inspired (the timbre of her voice can also evoke Brazilian bossa nova troubadours) and radiate a calming warmth that sends you closer toward bliss. — Washington Post, "15 things to do in the D.C. area this weekend," 10 Oct. 2019 Everyone mingled while samba and bossa nova music played in the background. — Vogue, "The Bride Designed Her Own Dress for Her Cliffside Wedding in Israel," 18 Nov. 2019 The bossa nova king finally won a Grammy in 1995 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. — Paul Grein, Billboard, "The 50 Greatest Grammy Losers for Best New Artist," 17 Sep. 2019 Blame it on global warming, Norv Turner or the bossa nova. — Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Eli getting into hall sure thing, though he was never dominant," 12 Oct. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bossa nova.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

27 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Bossa nova.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bossa%20nova. Accessed 22 Feb. 2020.

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