beatbox

or beat-box

[ beet-boks ]

noun

1. drum machine.
2. Slang. boom box.

verb (used without object)

1. to simulate the sounds and rhythms of percussion instruments or a drum machine by using the mouth and voice:

   Have you ever heard someone beatbox like that?

beatbox

/ ˈbiːtˌbɒks /

noun

1. informal.
   a drum machine

Other Word Forms

• beatboxer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of beatbox¹

An Americanism dating back to 1975–80; beat + box ¹

Example Sentences

For “Beat of the Day,” Public Enemy rapper and “Flavor of Love” star Flavor Flav beatboxed and sang about loving different kinds of bugs.

From Los Angeles Times

Carter made use of the club’s subwoofers with his flashlight, putting his humorously sharp beatboxing party starter skills on display to test the limits of the Kookaburra’s sound system.

From Los Angeles Times

He left behind an incredible legacy, celebrated for his beatboxing prowess, turntable mastery and the 1989 classic “Just a Friend.”

From Seattle Times

The internet also found archival footage of him performing in the early '00s, and the singer is adorned with a bandana and saggy pants while he beatboxes his name in a blaccent.

From Salon

The wisps of rap and folk songs early on, backed by sparse arrangements of acoustic guitar, vocalizations and beatboxing, are more texture than fully realized numbers.

From Seattle Times