EDM
EDM (noun) means a broad category of music made with synthesisers, drum machines and computers, built around a strong repeating beat and intended mainly for clubs, festivals and dancing. Example: “She spent the whole summer following EDM festivals around Europe.”
How to Use EDM
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishElectronic music made for dancing to.
Everyday in music writing and conversation; the machining sense is confined to engineering contexts.
Treat EDM as an uncountable noun: say "he makes EDM", not "he makes an EDM".
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
She spent the whole summer following _____ festivals around Europe.
Etymology
An initialism: in the music sense, of electronic dance music; in the engineering sense, of electrical discharge machining.
Synonyms
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does EDM stand for?
In its everyday sense it stands for electronic dance music, an umbrella term covering house, techno, trance, dubstep, drum and bass and many related styles. In engineering it stands for electrical discharge machining, an entirely unrelated metalworking process.
Is EDM a genre or a category?
It is best understood as an umbrella category rather than a single genre. House, techno and trance each have their own conventions, and many producers describe themselves by their specific style rather than as EDM artists.
Is EDM written in capitals?
Yes, it is normally written in capitals as EDM, with no full stops. Lower-case edm appears in casual writing but is not standard.