Quicksteps

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Rapid and lively dance movements executed in a fast tempo ; quick motions or actions performed with agility and speed ; brisk and efficient steps taken swiftly, often in a rhythmic or coordinated manner
2. Fast-paced sequences characteristic of certain dances marked by swift footwork ; expeditious acts or progressions undertaken promptly ; swift, energetic strides or motions made with rapid timing
3. Movements involving accelerating and precise foot placements in dance contexts ; hasty undertakings or procedures done with little delay ; quick, rhythmic stepping often linked to upbeat musical tempos

Etymology: "Quicksteps" is the plural of "quickstep," a noun formed from "quick" and "step," two words that have been part of English for centuries. The compound is transparent: a quick step is simply a rapid footstep or a stride taken at speed. Over time it came to name a lively dance in fast tempo, and the plural covers both the individual steps and the dance figures that make up a routine. The dance sense is the one that has stuck. In ballroom practice, the quickstep is a brisk partner dance, and its plural "quicksteps" is most often used when speaking of the movements within it. The extended senses, quick motions performed with agility and brisk, efficient steps taken in rhythm, all build on that same image of nimble, rapid footwork.

Synonyms: fast marches, fast dances, quick marches, quick dances, brisk steps

Antonyms: slow steps, slow marches, slow dances, leisurely steps, drag steps