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

His uncle, a doctor, was also a gifted cuatro player who taught Dudamel how to play popular Venezuelan music: waltzes, tangos, boleros — what Dudamel calls his very essence. —Leila Cobo, Billboard, 4 Oct. 2024

The musician and tango dancer Carlos Gardel, pictured here in graffiti in Buenos Aires, helped popularize tango in early-20th-century Argentina. —Charis McGowan, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Aug. 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

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

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