beat
beat Lexical Profile
beat Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A main accent or rhythmic unit in music or poetry.
"The drummer maintained a steady beat throughout the entire jazz performance."
A regular, rhythmic pulsation or throb, such as that of the heart.
"The doctor listened carefully to the steady beat of the patient's heart through a stethoscope."
An area, route, or specialized subject assigned to a police officer or journalist.
"After covering local politics for three years, the reporter was assigned to the environmental beat."
A brief pause or moment of hesitation in a conversation or dramatic performance.
"She waited a beat before answering the interviewer's challenging question."
• verb
To defeat or do better than a competitor in a game, contest, or challenge.
"Our school chess team managed to beat the defending champions in the final round."
To strike a surface or object repeatedly and rhythmically.
"Heavy rain began to beat against the classroom windows during the afternoon storm."
To pulsate or throb rhythmically (especially of the heart).
"His heart started to beat faster as he stepped onto the stage to deliver his speech."
To stir or whisk culinary ingredients vigorously to incorporate air and make a smooth or frothy mixture.
"Use a wire whisk to beat the eggs and sugar until the mixture becomes pale and fluffy."
To move upwards and downwards repeatedly (especially of a bird's or insect's wings).
"A tiny hummingbird can beat its wings more than fifty times per second while hovering."
• adjective
Completely exhausted or worn out after physical or mental exertion.
"After hiking up the steep trail all afternoon, the campers were completely beat."
American Relating to the Beat Generation or its countercultural literary and artistic movement of the 1950s.
"The bookstore hosted a lively discussion on beat poetry and mid-century jazz."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse with its homophone 'beet', which refers to the edible root vegetable. As an adjective meaning exhausted, 'beat' is informal and used exclusively in the predicate position (e.g., 'I am beat').
• Rhymes for beat
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'beatan' (to strike, thrust, or dash against), derived from the Proto-Germanic root '*bautan'.