rum·ba / ˈrəmbə; ˈroŏm-; ˈroōm-/ (also rhum·ba) • n. a rhythmic dance with Spanish and African elements, originating in Cuba. ∎  a piece of music for this dance or in a similar style. ∎  a ballroom dance imitative of this dance.• v. (-bas, -baed / -bəd/ , -ba·ing) [intr.] dance the rumba.

rumba. Cuban dance in 8/8 time which extended into world of jazz c.1930. Orig. perf. by instr. ens. with singer uttering meaningless phrases and syllables. Arthur Benjamin wrote a Jamaican Rumba and rumba rhythm has been used by other composers, e.g. Tippett and McCabe.