# drum and bass

CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/drum-and-bass
Updated: 2026-08-02

## Definition

a style of fast electronic dance music that has very loud, heavy bass sounds and fast drum rhythms.

For teachers: a genre of electronic dance music emerging in the early 1990s, characterised by fast breakbeats and heavy, sub-harmonic basslines.

## Examples

- The club played drum and bass all night.
- Many festivals dedicated to electronic music feature a separate stage specifically for drum and bass artists.
- The evolution of drum and bass saw it transition from underground warehouse raves to a globally recognised genre with numerous sub-styles ranging from liquid to neurofunk.

## Usage notes

- Often abbreviated as 'DnB' or 'D&B'.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.