bossa nova
noun
bos·sa no·va
ˌbä-sə-ˈnō-və 
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
Building on top of 2023’s initial tracklist, five new songs round out the album to reflect a vast sonic library from jazz to bossa nova to R&B and alternative pop.
—
Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 10 Dec. 2024
Her wispy vocals drift through the song’s minimal bossa nova arrangement like fog through a forest.
—Stephen Kearse, TIME, 9 Dec. 2024
Guests dined on pasta from Jon & Vinny’s as a rotating stage revealed a number of performances throughout the night, covering everything from bossa nova to The Supremes.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 6 Dec. 2024
Beloved bossa nova producer, composer, pianist and song interpreter Sérgio Mendes has died at 83.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 6 Sep. 2024
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Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 10 Dec. 2024
Her wispy vocals drift through the song’s minimal bossa nova arrangement like fog through a forest.
—Stephen Kearse, TIME, 9 Dec. 2024
Guests dined on pasta from Jon & Vinny’s as a rotating stage revealed a number of performances throughout the night, covering everything from bossa nova to The Supremes.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 6 Dec. 2024
Beloved bossa nova producer, composer, pianist and song interpreter Sérgio Mendes has died at 83.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 6 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bossa nova
Dictionary Entries Near bossa nova
Cite this Entry
“Bossa nova.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bossa%20nova. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.
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