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noun Uncommon

trance

trahns

Trance (noun) means a dreamlike, semi-conscious state in which someone is not fully aware of their surroundings. Example: “She sat staring at the flames as if in a trance.”

noun
1
A dreamlike, semi-conscious state in which someone is not fully aware of their surroundings.
"She sat staring at the flames as if in a trance."
2
A genre of electronic dance music with repetitive, hypnotic rhythms.
"The club was known for playing trance late into the night."
verb
1
To put someone into a trance; to entrance.
"The rhythmic drumming seemed to trance the whole audience."

How to Use Trance

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA dazed, dreamlike state cut off from normal awareness, or a style of electronic music.

Common pairings
fall into a trance trance-like state trance music

Word Forms

tranced past tense, tranced past tense, trances plural, trances singular, trances singular

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She sat staring at the flames as if in a _____.

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman transe ("fear of coming evil, passage from life to death"), from transir ("to be numb with fear, to pass on"), from Latin trānseō, "to cross over."

Origin: Latin

catch entrance capture spell charm enchant fascinate enchantment enamor enamour becharm beguile

Related Words

Rhymes for trance

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “trance” mean?

The word “trance” means a dreamlike, semi-conscious state in which someone is not fully aware of their surroundings. In plain terms, a dazed, dreamlike state cut off from normal awareness, or a style of electronic music.

How do you pronounce “trance”?

“Trance” is pronounced trahns (/tɹæns/ in IPA).

How do you use “trance” in a sentence?

Here is “trance” used in a sentence: “She sat staring at the flames as if in a trance.”

What part of speech is “trance”?

Depending on how it is used, “trance” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “trance” come from?

The word “trance” comes from Latin. From Anglo-Norman transe ("fear of coming evil, passage from life to death"), from transir ("to be numb with fear, to pass on"), from Latin trānseō, "to cross over.".

Is “trance” a common word?

“Trance” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “trance” have?

“Trance” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a dreamlike, semi-conscious state in which someone is not fully aware of their surroundings.

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