cakewalk Meaning & Definition
What Does Cakewalk Mean?
Cakewalk is a noun that means A contest in which cake was offered for the best dancers. It can also mean The style of music associated with such a contest. As a verb, it means To perform the cakewalk dance.
Quick Facts About Cakewalk
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //ˈkeɪk.wɔk// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Plural | cakewalks |
| Verb forms | cakewalks, cakewalking, cakewalked |
Cakewalk Definition (Noun)
- A contest in which cake was offered for the best dancers.
- The style of music associated with such a contest.
- The dance, or strutting style of dance, associated with such a contest.
- Something that is easy or simple, or that does not present a great challenge.
Cakewalk as a Verb
- To perform the cakewalk dance.
Synonyms of Cakewalk
The source does not list synonyms for this entry.
Cakewalk synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Cakewalk
No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.
Cakewalk in a Sentence
No example sentences are available for this entry.
Word Forms & Grammar
cakewalk (plural cakewalks)
cakewalk (third-person singular simple present cakewalks, present participle cakewalking, simple past and past participle cakewalked)
Words That Rhyme With Cakewalk
Origin of Cakewalk
Origin 1: From cake + walk. Originally an African-American form of dance and music that developed after the Civil War, later popularised by minstrel shows. It was danced at social events, with the best dancers often receiving cake as a prize. It derives from dance competitions by plantation slaves in which the style of dance lampooned the ballroom dances of the slaveowners.[1] Slaveowners seem to have found the competitions entertaining and the habit of offering cake may originate from this period. The name is sometimes also applied to the dance's precursor on the plantations. Doing the cakewalk well required virtuosity, and a major aesthetic aspect of that virtuosity was the apparent ease with which the dance was performed. This gave rise to the idiom as easy as a cakewalk, which in turn led to the sense of cakewalk as something that is easy.
Origin 2: See the linked Wikipedia article for more.
Pronouncing Cakewalk
The standard pronunciation of cakewalk is //ˈkeɪk.wɔk//, spoken in 1 syllable.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cakewalk
Is cakewalk a noun or a verb?
Cakewalk is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is the plural of cakewalk?
The plural of cakewalk is cakewalks.
What is the past tense of cakewalk?
The past tense of cakewalk is cakewalked. The present participle is cakewalking.