cakewalk

UK: /ˈkeɪkwɔːk/ US: /ˈkeɪkˌwɔk/ ,(kāk′wôk′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

cake•walk /ˈkeɪkˌwɔk/   n. [countable]

1. Music and Dance a dance with a special strutting step.
2. Informal Terms something easy or certain:
   Winning the prize will be a real cakewalk.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

cake•walk  (kāk′wôk′), n. 

1. Music and Dance (formerly) a promenade or march, of black American origin, in which the couples with the most intricate or eccentric steps received cakes as prizes.
2. Music and Dance a dance with a strutting step based on this promenade.
3. Music and Dance music for this dance.
4. Informal Terms something easy, sure, or certain.

v.i. 

5. Music and Dance to walk or dance in or as if in a cakewalk.

• cake + walk 1860–65

cake′walk′er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

cakewalk / ˈkeɪkˌwɔːk/ noun

1. a dance based on a march with intricate steps, originally performed by African Americans with the prize of a cake for the best performers
2. a piece of music composed for this dance
3. an easily accomplished task