samba

• Nom désignant une danse brésilienne vive et sa musique, un grand arbre d'Afrique de l'Ouest au bois tendre, ainsi qu'un jeu de cartes, variante du canasta.

A noun referring to a lively Brazilian ballroom dance, the music composed for it, or a large West African tree yielding soft wood; also a card game variant of canasta.

1. West African treeC2formal

   A large tree native to West Africa, with large palm-shaped leaves and clusters of small white flowers, producing soft pale wood.

   Samba (arbre ouest-africain)

   • The samba tree is valued for its lightweight timber.
   • Local carpenters use samba wood for making furniture.
   • The samba's seeds are dispersed by the wind.

   Synonymesobeche

2. Brazilian dance musicB1formalart

   A style of music composed for the lively Brazilian ballroom dance called samba.

   samba (musique)

   • The band played a fast samba at the carnival.
   • Samba music is known for its infectious rhythm.
   • She learned to play samba on the drums.

3. Brazilian danceB1formalart

   A lively ballroom dance originating from Brazil, characterized by rhythmic steps and hip movements.

   Samba (danse)

   • They danced the samba at the festival.
   • Samba requires quick footwork and energy.
   • The couple performed a flawless samba routine.

4. Card game variantC1formal

   A version of the card game canasta that uses three decks of cards and six jokers.

   Samba (variante de canasta)

   • They played samba late into the night.
   • Samba is a more complex version of canasta.
   • The rules of samba involve forming melds with jokers.

• Verbe utilisé pour désigner l'action de danser la samba — une danse brésilienne vivante — ou de se mouvoir dans un style rythmique similaire.

A verb used to indicate the act of dancing the samba, a lively Brazilian dance, or moving in a similar rhythmic style.

1. Dance the sambaB1informal

   To perform the samba, a lively, rhythmical Brazilian dance.

   Danser la samba

   • They sambaed all night at the carnival.
   • She loves to samba to the beat of the drums.
   • He learned to samba during his trip to Rio.