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   Beat

   /bēt/

   

   verb

   • 1. strike (a person or an animal) repeatedly and violently so as to hurt or injure them, typically with an implement such as a club or whip: "if we were caught we were beaten" Similar hitstrikebatterthumphammerpunchknockthrashpoundpummelslapsmackcrackthwackcuffbuffetmaulpeltdrubrain blows onassaultattackabuseflaywhiplashcudgelclubbirchinformal:wallopbeltbashwhackcloutclobberslugtanbiffbopsockdeckpluglay intodo overknock aroundrough upfill inknock into the middle of next weekbeat the living daylights out ofgive someone a good hidingdated:chastise
   • ▪ strike (an object) repeatedly so as to make a noise: "he beat the table with his hand" Similar banghitstrikeraptappoundthumphammerplaysoundperform onmake music on
   • ▪ (of an instrument) make a rhythmical sound by being struck: "drums were beating in the distance"
   • ▪ strike (a carpet, blanket, etc.) repeatedly in order to remove dust: "upright cleaners have a motorized head which beats the carpet to loosen the dirt"
   • ▪ flatten or shape (metal) by striking it repeatedly with a hammer: "pure gold can be beaten out to form very thin sheets" Similar hammerforgeformshapemoldworkstampfashionmodelfabricatemakecastframesculptsculpture
   • ▪ strike something against (something): "she beat her fists against the wood"
   • ▪ strike repeatedly at or on something: "Sid beat on the door with the flat of his hand"
   • ▪ move across (an area of land) repeatedly striking at the ground cover in order to raise game birds for shooting.
   • 2. defeat (someone) in a game or other competitive situation: "she beat him easily at chess" Similar defeatconquerwin againstget the better ofvanquishtrounceroutoverpowerovercomeoverwhelmoverthrowsubduequashcrushinformal:lickthrashwhipwipe the floor withclobberown
   • ▪ overcome (a problem or disease): "he beat heroin addiction in 1992"
   • ▪ do or be better than (a record or score): "he beat his own world record" Similar surpassoutdoexceedeclipsetranscendtoptrumpcapbetteroutperformoutstripoutshineoutclassovershadowput in the shadebe better thanimprove ongo one better than
   • ▪ be better than: informal "you can't beat the taste of fresh raspberries"
   • ▪ baffle: informal "it beats me how you manage to work in this heat"
   • 3. succeed in getting somewhere ahead of (someone): "the goalie beat him to the ball"
   • ▪ take action to avoid (difficult or inconvenient effects of an event or circumstance): "they set off early to beat the traffic"
   • 4. (of the heart) pulsate: "her heart beat faster with panic" Similar pulsatepulsepalpitatevibratethrobreverberatepumppoundthumpthudhammerdrumpitter-pattergo pit-a-patrare:quop
   • 5. (of a bird) move (the wings) up and down: "doves wheel around the rooftops, beating their wings" Similar flapfluttermove up and downthreshthrashwaveshakeswingagitatequivertremblevibrateoscillate
   • ▪ (of a bird) fly making rhythmic wing movements: "an owl beat low over the salt marsh"
   • 6. stir (cooking ingredients) vigorously with a fork, whisk, or beater to make a smooth or frothy mixture: "beat the butter until light and fluffy" Similar whiskmixblendwhipstirfold
   • 7. sail into the wind, following a zigzag course with repeated tacking: "we beat southward all that first day"

   noun

   • 1. a main accent or rhythmic unit in music or poetry: "the glissando begins on the second beat"
   • ▪ a strong rhythm in popular music: "the music changed to a funky disco beat" Similar rhythmpulsestressmetertimemeasurecadenceaccentrhythmical flow/pattern
   • ▪ a regular, rhythmic sound or movement: "the beat of the wipers became almost hypnotic"
   • ▪ the sound made when something, especially a musical instrument, is struck: "he heard the beat of a drum" Similar poundingbangingthumpingthuddingboominghammeringbatteringcrashing
   • ▪ a pulsation of the heart. Similar pulsepulsingpulsatingvibrationvibratingthrobthrobbingpalpitationpalpitatingreverberationreverberatingbeatingpumpingpoundingthumpingthuddinghammeringdrummingpitter-patterpit-a-pat
   • ▪ a periodic variation of sound or amplitude due to the combination of two sounds, electrical signals, or other vibrations having similar but not identical frequencies.
   • 2. the movement of a bird's wings: "the beat of the swallow's wings as they dive after midges"
   • 3. an area allocated to a police officer to patrol: "public clamor for more police officers on the beat" Similar circuitroundcourseroutewaypathorbittourturn
   • ▪ a spell of duty allocated to a police officer: "her beat ended at 6 a.m."
   • ▪ an area regularly frequented by someone, typically a prostitute: "a few, new to their beat, looked at him with interest"
   • ▪ a person's area of interest: informal "his beat is construction, property, and hotels"
   • 4. a brief pause or moment of hesitation, typically one lasting a specified length: "she waited for a beat of three seconds"
   • 5. short for beatnik informal

   adjective

   • 1. completely exhausted: informal "I'm beat—I need an hour or so to rest"
   • 2. relating to the beat generation or its philosophy: "beat poet Allen Ginsberg"

   Word Origin Old Englishbēatan, of Germanic origin.

   Scrabble Points: 6

   • B

     3

   • E

     1

   • A

     1

   • T

     1

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2. People also ask

   What is a beat verb?

   • Definition of beat verb from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary [transitive] beat somebody (at something) to defeat someone in a game or competition He beat me at chess. Their recent wins have proved they're still the ones to beat (= the most difficult team to beat). Questions about grammar and vocabulary?

   beat verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/american_english/beat_1

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   What does beating someone mean?

   • She was beating dust out of the carpet (= removing dust from the carpet by beating it). beat somebody At that time children were regularly beaten for minor offenses (= a punishment). beat somebody + adv./prep. An elderly man was found beaten to death.

   beat verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/american_english/beat_1

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   What does beat mean in music?

   • c. To strike so as to produce music or a signal: beat a drum. d. Music To mark or count (time or rhythm), especially with the hands or with a baton. 3. a. To shape or break by repeated blows; forge: beat the glowing metal into a dagger. b. To make by pounding or trampling: beat a path through the jungle.

   Beat - definition of beat by The Free Dictionary

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   What does beaten mean?

   • 1. a regular stroke or its sound. I like the beat of that song. 2. a regular or usual course. a policeman's beat. 1. overcome; defeated. the beaten team; He looked tired and beaten. 2. mixed thoroughly. beaten egg. to approach a subject in an indirect way, without coming to the point or making any decision. 1. (of the sun) to give out great heat.

   Beat - definition of beat by The Free Dictionary

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3. www.dictionary.com › browse › beatBEAT Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › beat

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   Beat definition: to strike violently or forcefully and repeatedly. See examples of BEAT used in a sentence.

4. www.thefreedictionary.com › beatBeat - definition of beat by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › beat

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   Define beat. beat synonyms, beat pronunciation, beat translation, English dictionary definition of beat. strike repeatedly; vanquish; sound a signal: beat a drum; a rhythmical unit of time: The metronome set the beat.

5. www.collinsdictionary.com › us › dictionaryBEAT definition in American English | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › us › dictionary

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   4 days ago · 1. transitive verb. If you beat someone or something, you hit them very hard. My wife tried to stop them and they beat her. Synonyms: batter, break, hit, strike More Synonyms of beat. 2. intransitive verb. To beat on, at, or against something means to hit it hard, usually several times or continuously for a period of time.

6. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definitionbeat verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage ...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition

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   Definition of beat verb in Oxford Advanced American Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

7. dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › beatBEAT | definition in the Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › beat

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   to hit against something hard, making a continuous or regular sound: Rain beat against the windows. The soldiers started beating their drums. the sound of birds beating their wings. beat verb (GET RID OF) to get rid of something bad: measures to beat crime. I'm determined to beat this illness. beat verb (HEART) B1.

8. www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › beatbeat | meaning of beat in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary ...

   www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › beat

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   beat | meaning of beat in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English | LDOCE. Word family (noun) beat beating (adjective) beatable ≠ unbeatable beaten ≠ unbeaten (verb) beat.

9. www.britannica.com › dictionary › beatBeat Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary

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   a : to put out (a fire) by beating. The fire was raging but we managed to beat it out. b baseball : to turn (a ground ball) into a base hit by running fast to first base. He beat out a bunt. 2. beat out (someone or something) or beat (someone or something) out US : to defeat or overcome (a person, team, etc.)