galop

A horse and rider perform a galop across an open field.

Definition

1. Noun:

   • A lively dance: "galop" is a rapid, lively dance in duple time, popular in the 19th century, often performed as part of a ballroom sequence.
   • The music for this dance: The musical composition written to accompany the galop dance.

2. Verb:

   • To dance the galop: To perform the steps of the galop dance.
   • To move quickly or gallop: In a broader sense, to move at a fast, lively pace, similar to a horse's gallop.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The orchestra struck up a spirited galop. (A lively piece of dance music.)
  • They ended the evening with a fast galop across the ballroom floor. (A performance of the dance.)

• Verb:

  • The dancers galoped around the room with great energy. (They performed the galop dance.)
  • The children galoped through the field, laughing. (They moved quickly, like a gallop.)

Advanced Usage

• "to galop through something": to do something very quickly or hastily.
  • She galoped through her homework to join her friends. (She completed her homework at a rapid pace.)

Variants and Related Words

• Galopade (n): a lively dance or a gallop; also, a series of rapid movements.
  • The horse's galopade was smooth and fast. (A galloping motion.)

Synonyms

• Gallop: a fast, bounding gait of a horse; also used for quick movement.
• Dance: a rhythmic movement to music, often in a social setting.

Phrasal Verbs

• Galop off: to leave quickly or rush away.
  • He galoped off before anyone could stop him. (He departed hastily.)

Related Idioms

• At a galop: very quickly; at a fast pace.
  • The meeting proceeded at a galop, finishing in half the time. (The meeting was conducted rapidly.)