Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A style of vocal percussion associated with hip-hop in which sounds produced in the vocal tract are used to create funk rhythms.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The practice of using one’s mouth, lips, tongue, voice, etc. as a percussive instrument to create beats, rhythms and melodies for music, mainly hip hop.
  • verb Present participle of beatbox.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[From beatbox, from a notion likening a vocal percussionist to a drum machine.]

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Examples

  • The beatboxing is cool; it's when he lapses into distortion and other ear-piercing, atonal sound that I start wishing I were deaf.

    Revisiting, revising (Music (For Robots)) 2006

  • The cardboard props are a riot and Gollum beatboxing is breathtaking for all the wrong reasons, but I think it’s the rappers’ performances that sell me on this stuff.

    6 Lord of the Rings Fan Films Besides Hunt For Gollum | Fan Cinema Today 2009

  • The cardboard props are a riot and Gollum beatboxing is breathtaking for all the wrong reasons, but I think it’s the rappers’ performances that sell me on this stuff.

    Lord of the Rings Fan Film Round-Up | Fan Cinema Today 2008

  • – QEH are a bit weird about that, although I’ve seen moshing there before now …) and after all the impressive beatboxing, especially Faith SFX, it came over as not as good or as innovative … they did some limp r ‘n’b numbers and MC Chips (yeah exactly) talked down to the audience after all that earlier demonstration and education in beatboxing, we don’t need another demonstration (1 po-tata!

    Beyond Beatboxing… 2006

  • – QEH are a bit weird about that, although I’ve seen moshing there before now …) and after all the impressive beatboxing, especially Faith SFX, it came over as not as good or as innovative … they did some limp r ‘n’b numbers and MC Chips (yeah exactly) talked down to the audience after all that earlier demonstration and education in beatboxing, we don’t need another demonstration (1 po-tata!

    2006 March | Radio Clash Music Podcast & Blog 2006

  • But instead of trying to deliver emotion which he has only done successfully with Marc Anthony's 'I Need to Know' and his last 2 songs last night, he relies on the gimmicky beatboxing, which is only tolerable in doses and is not a substitute for emotional singing.

    YesButNoButYes: (American) Idol Thoughts and (Anal)ysis - 5/15/07 2007

  • Williams and Nelson, 17, said Nelson came up with the idea of beatboxing as Williams sang

    Iowa City Press-Citizen - Local News 2009

  • Williams and Nelson, 17, said Nelson came up with the idea of beatboxing as Williams sang

    Iowa City Press-Citizen - Local News 2009

  • ML: Well, I waan tell you it name beatboxing still - that's when you play riddim wid your mouth.

    JamaicaObserver.com | Lead Stories 2009

  • Soul legend Irma Thomas is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the weekend, though Frank Chickens and all-female beatboxing outfit the Boxettes should also draw a crowd.

    This week's new events 2011

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