English Lexicon

Breakbeat

/ˈbreɪk.biːt/
nounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #1500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A style of electronic music characterized by the use of sampled drum breaks and syncopated rhythms.

    "The DJ played a mix of breakbeat tracks that got everyone on the dance floor."
  2. 2

    A specific rhythmic pattern used in music, often sampled from older tracks.

    "The breakbeat in that song is instantly recognizable and has been used in many remixes."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The term 'breakbeat' originated in the late 1970s, combining 'break', referring to the break in a song where the rhythm is emphasized, and 'beat', which denotes the basic unit of time in music. It evolved within the hip-hop and electronic music scenes, representing a style characterized by its syncopated rhythms and use of sampled drum breaks.

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