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bossa nova definition

bossa nova (bäs′ə nō′və)

  1. jazz samba music that originated in Brazil, with a light, flowing line
  2. a dance for couples, performed to this music

Etymology: Port, lit., new bump, new tendency < bossa, a bump (akin to Fr bosse, boss) + nova (< L, fem. of novus, new)

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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