Music
breakin
What does breakin mean?
By extension, going all out or competing hard in a dance battle.
"Both crews were breakin' like the title was on the line."
Origin
Born in the 1970s Bronx as dancers got down during a record's 'break', breakin' (later marketed as 'breakdancing') was the dance pillar of early hip-hop culture.
Frequently asked questions
What does breakin mean in slang?
It means dancing to the break of a record with footwork, freezes, and power moves, the original term for what's now called breakdancing.
Where did breakin come from?
From the 1970s Bronx, where dancers performed during the 'breaks' of records; it became hip-hop's dance element.
Is breakin the same as breakdancing?
Essentially yes, though insiders prefer 'breakin' or 'b-boying'; 'breakdancing' was a media and marketing term.
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
