What is a Date?

I was talking with some friends in my creative writing class and the topic somehow turned to dating. I was the only one who had actually dated someone but as I was talking to them I admitted that I didn't even know if I'd ever been on a date. It got me thinking about what makes a date. Thinking back I've probably had at least two real dates which would be my first date and one time I went to the movies but other than that I don't know if the other things would be dates since I always considered them to be hanging out. If you are at someone's house and you watch a movie with them is that a date? Or if you go for a walk together is that a date? I've always thought of dates as an event like going to a movie or going to dinner or something along those lines but now I'm sort of curious about what a real life date is. Is it just generally hanging out with someone you are dating or will date in the future? If so does that mean dates even have to be romantic at all? Could playing board games be a date? I'm thoroughly confused. I mean if it's just spending time with a romantic interest then that makes sense but it's a bit disappointing to know playing a board game and going to a fancy dinner could both be put in the same category of a date. I always though dates were special and romantic and magical. I guess that's another lie movies told me when I was younger. I base way too much of my romantic knowledge on movies....