Beat

/biːt/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A stroke or sound made by striking something.

The beat of the music was infectious, making everyone want to dance.

A repeated rhythmic unit in music or poetry.

The rap song has a catchy beat that gets stuck in your head.

A defeat or loss in competition.

That loss was a tough beat for the team to swallow.

An area or subject that one is responsible for covering, as in journalism.

She covers the city council beat for the local newspaper.

verb

To strike a person or an animal, especially repeatedly.

The boxer managed to beat his opponent in the final round.

To win against someone in a competition.

Our team beat the rivals in a thrilling match.

To move swiftly and rhythmically.

The drummer's hands moved in a blur as he beat the drums energetically.

To defeat or overcome.

She worked hard to beat her personal record in the marathon.

To stir or mix a substance vigorously using a utensil.

I need you to beat the eggs until they are fluffy.

Middle English 'beten', from Old English 'beatan', meaning 'to strike'.

beat around the bush

to avoid talking about what is important

beat the clock

to finish something before a deadline

beat your own drum

to boast or brag about one's own achievements

beat a dead horse

to continue to argue or discuss a point that has already been decided

beat one's wings

to flap one's wings, often used metaphorically to indicate excitement or agitation

beater

a tool or person that beats things, especially in cooking

beating

the action of striking repeatedly

beatitude

a state of utmost happiness or bliss

exhausted or tired

After the long hike, I was completely beat.

defeated or outperformed

I thought I had a good chance, but I totally got beat.