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# polka

noun (a polka, polkas); verb (polka, polkas, polkaed, polkaing — rare)

«polka» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A lively, bouncy dance for couples that started in Central Europe in the 1800s, with quick hopping steps. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/polka/#m1)
2. The music played for this dance, usually with two beats in a bar. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/polka/#m2)
3. (as in «polka dots») a pattern of round dots of the same size spread evenly over cloth. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/polka/#m3)
4. (verb, rare) To dance a polka. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/polka/#m4)

### In the lessons

In music and PE lessons a polka is a fast, happy folk dance; in art and clothes «polka dots» are the even round spots on a dress, a tie or a mug. In stories it tells the reader there is a cheerful party or village dance. Phrases: «dance a polka», «polka music», «polka dots», «polka-dot dress».

### Examples

- At the school ceilidh we learned to dance the polka. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/polka/#x1)
- The band played a polka and everyone started hopping round the hall. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/polka/#x2)
- A polka has two beats in each bar, so it is easy to clap along. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/polka/#x3)
- My nan's favourite dress is red with white polka dots. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/polka/#x4)
- Ladybirds look like they are wearing polka dots. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/polka/#x5)
- The accordion player squeezed out a jolly polka. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/polka/#x6)
- In art we printed polka dots with the ends of pencils. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/polka/#x7)
- Grandad and Gran polkaed round the kitchen at Christmas. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/polka/#x8)
- I am going to teach you to jump and bow, to dance a waltz and a polka, and even to stand on your head.” [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/polka/#x9)

### Note

Countable noun: a polka, two polkas. «Polka dot» is usually two words, with a hyphen before a noun: a polka-dot scarf. The verb is rare and old-fashioned. Say POL-ka (UK) or POLE-ka (US). Polka dots are a pattern of circles, not a dance, even though they share the name.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «polka» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/polka/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«polka» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/polka.html) on Mova free.