Definition of "dating" in English

noun

1. A form of romantic courtship typically between two individuals with the aim of assessing the other's suitability as a partner in an intimate relationship or as a spouse.

   • Janet was surprised at how much casual dating had changed since she was last single.
   • We met on a popular dating app.

2. An estimation of the age of an artifact, biological vestige, linguistic usage, etc.

   • 1922 (July), A. E. Douglass, "Some aspects of the use of the annual rings of trees in climatic study". The Scientific Monthly 15(1): 5-21. A comparison in seven sequoias between very careful counting and accurate dating in 2,000 years shows an average counting error of 35 years, which is only 1.7 per cent.

3. The setting of a date on which an event or transaction is to take place or take effect.

verb

1. present participle and gerund of date