gavotte: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Historical, Musical
Quick answer
What does “gavotte” mean?
A medium-paced French dance in duple time, popular in the 18th century, characterized by a skipping step.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A medium-paced French dance in duple time, popular in the 18th century, characterized by a skipping step.
The music composed for such a dance; more broadly, a lively and somewhat old-fashioned or formal activity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Slightly more common in British historical or cultural discourse due to European cultural history.
Connotations
In both varieties, connotes antiquity, formality, and a specific cultural/artistic milieu.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language. Slightly higher frequency in specialised texts (music, dance, history).
Grammar
How to Use “gavotte” in a Sentence
NOUN: The dancers performed a lively gavotte.VERB (rare/intransitive): They gavotted across the polished floor.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gavotte” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- After dinner, the guests were invited to gavotte in the grand hall.
- The couple gavotted with remarkable precision.
American English
- The reenactors gavotted in period costume.
- He joked that they were just gavotting around the main issue.
adverb
British English
- They moved gavotte-fashion across the parquet.
American English
- She played the section gavotte-style.
adjective
British English
- The piece had a distinct gavotte-like rhythm.
- Her movements were gavotte-graceful.
American English
- It was a gavotte tempo, not a waltz.
- He played a gavotte section from the suite.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, musicological, or dance history contexts.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would be considered a very specialised or learned word.
Technical
Core term in Baroque music and historical dance.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gavotte”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gavotte”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gavotte”
- Incorrect pronunciation: /ˈɡævɒt/ or /ˈɡævəʊt/.
- Misspelling: 'gavott', 'gavot'.
- Using it as a common synonym for any dance.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is used almost exclusively in historical, musical, or figurative/literary contexts. It is not part of everyday modern vocabulary.
Yes, but it is very rare and stylised. It means 'to dance a gavotte' or, figuratively, to engage in a formal or intricate activity.
Both are Baroque dances. A minuet is in triple time (3/4) and is stately and graceful. A gavotte is in duple or quadruple time (4/4) and often begins on the third beat of the bar, giving it a distinctive 'lifting' or skipping feel.
Yes, primarily in the vowel of the second syllable. British English uses /ɒ/ (as in 'lot'), while American English uses /ɑː/ (as in 'father'). The stress is on the second syllable in both: /ɡə-VOT/ vs. /ɡə-VAHT/.
A medium-paced French dance in duple time, popular in the 18th century, characterized by a skipping step.
Gavotte is usually formal, historical, musical in register.
Gavotte: in British English it is pronounced /ɡəˈvɒt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɡəˈvɑːt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Rare/Figurative] Do a little gavotte around the issue. (Meaning: to avoid addressing something directly in a fussy or formal way.)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a GAVOTTE being danced at a lavish (GAV) French court, where OTT (over-the-top) wigs and costumes were worn.
Conceptual Metaphor
A FORMAL ACTIVITY IS A CHOREOGRAPHED DANCE (e.g., 'the diplomatic gavotte of treaty negotiations').
Practice
Quiz
In which context are you MOST likely to encounter the word 'gavotte'?