different between rhythm vs breakbeat

English

Etymology

First coined in 1557, from Latin rhythmus, from Ancient Greek ?????? (rhuthmós, “any measured flow or movement, symmetry, rhythm”), from ??? (rhé?, “I flow, run, stream, gush”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /???.ð(?)m/
  • Rhymes: -?ð?m
• (obsolete) IPA^(key): /???.?(?)m/

Noun

rhythm (countable and uncountable, plural rhythms)

1. The variation of strong and weak elements (such as duration, accent) of sounds, notably in speech or music, over time; a beat or meter.

   Dance to the rhythm of the music.

2. A specifically defined pattern of such variation.

   Most dances have a rhythm as distinctive as the Iambic verse in poetry

3. A flow, repetition or regularity.

   Once you get the rhythm of it, the job will become easy.

4. The tempo or speed of a beat, song or repetitive event.

   We walked with a quick, even rhythm.

5. The musical instruments which provide rhythm (mainly; not or less melody) in a musical ensemble.

   The Baroque term basso continuo is virtually equivalent to rhythm

6. A regular quantitative change in a variable (notably natural) process.

   The rhythm of the seasons dominates agriculture as well as wildlife

7. Controlled repetition of a phrase, incident or other element as a stylistic figure in literature and other narrative arts; the effect it creates.

   The running gag is a popular rhythm in motion pictures and theater comedy

Synonyms

• meter / metre
• prosody
• (instruments providing rhythm) rhythm section

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

English

Etymology

break +? beat

Noun

breakbeat (plural breakbeats)

1. (music, countable) A form of syncopated rhythm prominent in much African music.
   • CMJ New Music Monthly

     A cornucopia of hyped-up breakbeats, keyboard squiggles, surf grooves, dancehall stylee, dumb loops and much atonal shouting along, Far In dares you not to smile.

2. (music, uncountable) A genre of electronic dance music based on such syncopated rhythms.