afterbeat
|af-ter-beat|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˈæftərˌbiːt/
🇬🇧
/ˈɑːftəˌbiːt/
secondary beat
Etymology
Etymology Information
'afterbeat' originates from English, combining 'after' meaning 'following' and 'beat' meaning 'a rhythmic unit in music'.
Historical Evolution
The term 'afterbeat' has been used in musical contexts to describe rhythms that emphasize the beats following the main beats.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred to any beat following a main beat, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a secondary or weaker beat following the main beat, often used in music to create a syncopated rhythm.
The reggae song had a distinctive afterbeat that made it catchy.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/05/25 17:36