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noun Uncommon

trance

trahns
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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
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Word forms

Plural
trances
Third person singular
trances
Past tense
tranced
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

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

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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