tarantella

noun

tar·​an·​tel·​la ˌter-ən-ˈte-lə How to pronounce tarantella (audio)
ˌta-rən-ˈte-lə
: a lively folk dance of southern Italy in ⁶/₈ time

Examples of tarantella in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But there is plenty more, including a full docket of entertainment, including tarantella dancing and live music from such artists as classic Italian pop singer Vanessa Racci, accordionist Cory Pesaturo, and Bay Area bands Nina Lane, Sonamo and Il Sole. Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 29 May 2024 The five animal friends sang and danced to jazz, funk, bossa nova, Irish jig, township jive, tarantella and psychedelic soul. John Yoon, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 That’s not all on her: No matter how seriously the action is played, watching someone try to dance a tarantella while sitting in a chair is innately goofy. Vulture, 9 Mar. 2023 In the finale, the musicians whipped up plenty of excitement, but also exuded comic cheer in the tarantella, a folksy dance from southern Italy. Tim Diovanni, Dallas News, 24 Sep. 2021 The shop offers sacred figures as well as ones inspired by local culture, such as a dancer doing the pizzica (Lecce’s version of the tarantella). Alexander Pohl, National Geographic, 4 Nov. 2019 After match point against Wozniacki, as Sergio did a tarantella in the stands, Camila stood beaming on the court. Jon Wertheim, SI.com, 10 Jan. 2014 Mozart’s concerto remains aurally aloof from such politics; even the seemingly Sicilian-appropriate tarantella-like rhythms of the finale are, in all likelihood, coincidental. Matthew Guerrieri, BostonGlobe.com, 28 June 2018 Around him, the kitchen was a tarantella of activity: four cooks grilled rack of lamb, another rinsed lettuce and yet another arranged grilled vegetables on a platter. Mark Landler, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tarantella.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from Taranto, Italy

First Known Use

1782, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tarantella was in 1782

Dictionary Entries Near tarantella

Cite this Entry

“Tarantella.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tarantella. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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