As you mentioned, dating does mean many things to different people. That said, I can't say that I have my own definition, but it seems like the common denominator behind all def'n of "dating" involves a guy and a girl spending time together doing activities that they wouldn't normally do individually. Intentions, commitment and affection can vary drastically and there really is no way to know going in what level the other person involved is at.
That said, there are some pretty typical definitions that I've run into:
Casual Dating - Almost no commitment, really a result of individual dates that become a pattern. This type of dating often accompanies promiscuity, but doesn't necessarily have to. People who casual date can, and do, have multiple datee's at any one time.
Christian Dating - A relationship between two christians, intended to get to know the other person and determine if they are someone worth marrying. Requires both parties be christian, dates are more formalized. Often this type of dating isn't entered into with someone you have just met.
Christ Centered Dating - Nearly equivalent to traditional courting, commitment is high and dates tend to often blur together with every day life. The intent going into the relationship is to marry the person (as opposed to find out if you want to/can/should marry them). Time spent together is often carefully managed and most dates involve some explicit time focused on God.
Obviously, there are many others that fall in between these, probably general percentage wise most fall between Christan Dating and Casual Dating; As a result I'm sure there are many more shades of dating between these two, than the Christian and Christ Centered.
Anyways, I haven't really answered your question, but sometimes just gotta get on my soap box.
Also, welcome Sarawr. You British English speakers always insist on doing things in strange ways, so you're probably right, totally different over here in the USA. But I'm sure that we do it the right way, rawr!!