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

Tango lessons are offered Wednesday evenings, with milonga and tango dancers performing Fridays and Saturdays. —Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 15 Jan. 2025

Argentine wine began to enter the global market in the 1990s, while the tango and Argentine culture were achieving a growing global fan base. —Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 12 Jan. 2025

Verb

Miles above the Earth, two bands of fast-moving air – the polar jet stream and the stratospheric polar vortex – sometimes tango together to influence weather in the northern hemisphere. —Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 10 Feb. 2025

The only thing that matters in sport is to be the last competitor standing, especially when there are just two to tango. —Tim Ellis, Forbes, 14 Jan. 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

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