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Glite Dictionary
to break-dance

to break-dance

1 4.2
To do energetic acrobatic street dance moves to hip-hop music
  • verb
  • /ˈbreɪkˌdæns/
translation icon : hacer breakdance
  • Did you ever break-dance when you were in school?

Examples

  • During the festival, she showcased her talent by break-dancing in front of a lively audience.

  • Yes, I'll be break-dancing later.

    Love Stinks (1999)

  • The break-dancers are break-dancing up in the Bronx.

    Air (2023)

  • - I can break-dance.

    The Mod Squad (1999)

  • The crowd cheered as the dancers took turns break-dancing on the street corner.

  • He impressed everyone at the party by break-dancing to the latest hip-hop tracks.

Synonyms

to dance
vsto break-dance
∞ 1.0

To move your body in time to music

involves energetic acrobatic street steps rather than general rhythmic movement
to break
vsto break-dance
39 8.2

To perform energetic street dance with acrobatic moves

is usually performed to hip-hop or funk music
to boogie
vsto break-dance
  • Informal
28 7.5

Dance energetically to lively upbeat music

relies on acrobatic street techniques rather than simple upbeat motion
to bust a move
vsto break-dance
  • Informal
11 8.9

To dance with a lot of energy to show skill or have fun

emphasizes acrobatic street steps rather than simple energetic motion
to bop
vsto break-dance
6 6.1

To move your body to music in a lively way

demands acrobatic street steps rather than light playful gestures
to hit the dance floor
vsto break-dance
  • Informal
2 3.9

To start dancing at a party or club

refers to energetic acrobatic street performance rather than merely starting to move
to boogie on down
vsto break-dance
  • Informal
1 8.8

To dance in a lively way to music

uses acrobatic street techniques rather than general lively movement
to break dance
vsto break-dance
3.7

To perform a street dance with quick acrobatic moves to hip-hop music

focuses on acrobatic street moves typically set to hip-hop or funk music
to tear up the dance floor
vsto break-dance
  • Informal
7.7

To dance with great energy and make people excited

centres on acrobatic street steps rather than just energetic showmanship

How Energetic

acrobatics
5 4.3
to break-dance
1 4.2
to dance
∞ 1.0
to sway
77 2.4

Surface Forms

break-dance infinitive
break-danced past
break-danced past participle
break-dancing present participle
break-dances third person singular

Morphology

break-dance = break + dance (semi-transparent) = break + dance

The word clearly contains 'dance', but the specific street-dance sense is specialized and not directly recoverable from the parts alone.

Etymology

Break-dance comes from the word break — the short, powerful drum part of a song that DJs used — plus dance, because dancers showed their best acrobatic moves during that 'break'. That's why to break-dance means to perform energetic, acrobatic street dance moves.