conga Hear it!

conga Definition

conga (käŋ′gə)

noun

  1. a Latin American dance of African origin with a repeated pattern of three steps followed by a kick: the dancers typically form a winding line
  2. syncopated music for this dance, in 2/4 time
  3. an elongated bass drum played with the hands

Etymology: AmSp (danza)Conga, Congo (dance) < Sp Congo, Congo: from the assumed Afr orig. of the dance

intransitive verb

to dance the conga

conga Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • dance: Maybe you'll enter rehab at 40, maybe you'll dance the nude conga at your 75th University Reunion.
  • play: A cello was put to good use, working effectively with the bass guitar and neatly finished off with some very well played congas.
  • do: You have come such a long way from doing the conga!
  • set: And it wouldn't be an LP conga set without the rugged tuning wrench and lug lube, sealed in the trademark black pouch.
  • have: Tim Keegan is sat on a chair alongside the drummer who only has congas and shakers tonight.

Modifies a noun

  • drum: He had his legs around a middle drum which joined to a pair of conga drums.
  • player: Then at the end you can hear Harrison saying: ' Phil, can we do one more without the conga player?
  • line: With a UK-only focus, he adds, " you don't have to get in a conga line to get things done.
  • pattern: In every bar, the walk commences with the slap stroke and ends with the open tone of the conga pattern.
  • dance: As if conga dances could convince us that they were happy.
  • round: The staff, children and parents doing the conga round the park at our summer picnic.