break dance: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumInformal, primarily used in youth culture, entertainment, and dance contexts.
Quick answer
What does “break dance” mean?
A highly acrobatic style of street dance that originated in the 1970s, characterized by athletic floor moves including spins, freezes, and intricate footwork.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A highly acrobatic style of street dance that originated in the 1970s, characterized by athletic floor moves including spins, freezes, and intricate footwork.
Can refer to the culture and community surrounding this dance form, or to perform this style of dance (as a verb).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the term similarly. The core hip-hop community often prefers 'breaking' or 'b-boying' over 'break dance', a tendency stronger in the US where the culture originated.
Connotations
In both regions, it strongly connotes 1980s popular culture, hip-hop origins, and urban street style. May have a slightly retro feel.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to the dance's origins in New York City. The term had peak popularity in the 1980s.
Grammar
How to Use “break dance” in a Sentence
[Subject] break dances[Subject] performed a break danceto break dance [Adverbial] (e.g., on the street)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “break dance” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He taught himself to breakdance by watching videos online.
- The crowd cheered as she breakdanced with incredible energy.
American English
- They used to breakdance on cardboard slabs in the Bronx.
- Can you breakdance to this beat?
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in contexts of event planning, entertainment agencies, or cultural festivals.
Academic
Used in studies of popular culture, dance history, sociology of youth movements, and ethnomusicology.
Everyday
Used when discussing hobbies, music, 80s nostalgia, or urban culture.
Technical
Used in dance instruction, choreography, and documentation of specific moves (e.g., windmills, headspins, top rocks).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “break dance”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “break dance”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “break dance”
- Using 'breakdance' as a noun only (it's also a verb: 'He can breakdance'). Misspelling as one word ('breakdance') or two ('break dance') is generally acceptable, but verb form is usually one word.
- Confusing it with other hip-hop dance styles like 'popping' or 'locking'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are widely accepted. 'Break dance' (two words) is common for the noun, and 'breakdance' (one word) is common for the verb, but usage varies.
It originated in the Bronx, New York City, in the early 1970s among African American and Latino youth as part of the emerging hip-hop culture.
'Breaking' and 'b-boying/b-girling' are the original terms used within the hip-hop community. 'Break dance' is the term that entered mainstream popular culture, especially during the 1980s media craze.
Yes. While its peak mainstream popularity was in the 1980s, it remains a vital, global element of hip-hop and street dance culture, with international competitions and a dedicated community.
A highly acrobatic style of street dance that originated in the 1970s, characterized by athletic floor moves including spins, freezes, and intricate footwork.
Break dance is usually informal, primarily used in youth culture, entertainment, and dance contexts. in register.
Break dance: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbreɪk dɑːns/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbreɪk dæns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Throw down a break dance”
- “Go off in a break dance circle”
- “Pop and lock (related style)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of dancers 'breaking' (pausing) the music's beat with their moves, or 'breaking' onto the floor with acrobatics.
Conceptual Metaphor
DANCE IS ATHLETIC COMBAT (battles, crews, throwing down).
Practice
Quiz
What is a more authentic term often preferred by practitioners over 'break dance'?