danse macabre UK /dɑns məˈkɑb(ɹə)/US /dɑns məˈkɑb/ noun1 •A conventional subject in art, literature and drama, or a particular work in that style, in which death (in the form of a putrid corpse, skeleton, the Grim Reaper, etc) is shown leading people to the grave. formsdanses macabres