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
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One display relates the history of the tarantella, a traditional Italian dance that began as a form of musical exorcism to cure wolf spider bites; visitors can practice the steps on a small dance floor with the help of an instructional video. Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2025 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

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 21 Feb. 2025.

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