beatbox

American  

[beet-boks] / ˈbitˌbɒks /

Or beat-box

noun

1. drum machine.

2. Slang. boom box.

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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 British  

/ ˈbiːtˌbɒks /

noun

1. informal a drum machine

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Other Word Forms

• beatboxer
  noun

Etymology

Origin of beatbox

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

Example Sentences

In Jamie Lloyd's production an ethnically diverse cast conversed in the style of a poetry slam or rap battle with a live beatbox soundtrack.

From BBC • Nov. 30, 2022

The words added in 2014 included geocache, chillax, beatbox, frenemy, hashtag, joypad, mojito, selfie, soju, texter, vodcast, vlog, and yuzu, among others.

From Salon • May 30, 2022

Biz Markie, a beatbox virtuoso, had a playfulness and an off-key, enthusiastic musicality that turned his 1989 song ‘Just a Friend’ into an enduring pop hit.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 23, 2021

Biz could do anything: beatbox, record-scratch with his mouth, sing out of tune with feeling and fervor, and show up the best emcees of his day, all through sheer energy and personality.

From Slate • Jul. 20, 2021

It doesn’t rhyme, and the kid trying to beatbox in the background can’t keep time to save his life.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz