Definition

1. Noun:

   • An early ballroom dance; precursor to the fox-trot: A lively ballroom dance in 2/4 time, popular in the early 20th century, characterized by a simple pattern of quick steps.

2. Verb:

   • To dance the one-step: To perform this specific dance.

Usage Examples

• Noun: The band played a tune perfect for the one-step. The one-step was a popular dance before the First World War.

• Verb: The couple one-stepped gracefully across the floor. We learned how to one-step in our history of dance class.

Advanced Usage

• Historical/Cultural Context: The term is primarily used in historical discussions of early 20th-century social dance. It is rarely used to describe contemporary dancing.

Variants and Related Words

• One-stepper (noun): A person who dances the one-step.

Synonyms

• Ballroom dance (noun, general category).
• Dance (verb, general action).

Notes on Meaning

• The word is a compound noun formed from "one" and "step," directly describing the dance's simple, single-step pattern. As a verb, it is a zero derivation (conversion) from the noun.
• This term is now largely historical and is not commonly used in modern descriptions of dancing unless referring to that specific era or style.

Verb

1. dance the one-step

Noun

1. an early ballroom dance; precursor to the fox-trot