I. ˈbēt verb
( beat ; beat·en ˈbē-t ə n ; or beat ; beat·ing )
Etymology: Middle English beten, from Old English bēatan; akin to Old High German bōzan to beat
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1. : to strike repeatedly:
a. : to hit repeatedly so as to inflict pain — often used with up
b. : to walk on : tread
beat the pavement looking for work
c. : to strike directly against forcefully and repeatedly : dash against
d. : to flap or thrash at vigorously
e. : to strike at in order to rouse game ; also : to range over in or as if in quest of game
f. : to mix by stirring : whip — often used with up
g. : to strike repeatedly in order to produce music or a signal
beat a drum
2.
a. : to drive or force by blows
beat back his attackers
b. : to pound into a powder, paste, or pulp
c. : to make by repeated treading or driving over
beat a path
d.
(1) : to dislodge by repeated hitting
beat dust from the carpet
(2) : to lodge securely by repeated striking
beat a stake into the ground
e. : to shape by beating
beat swords into plowshares
especially : to flatten thin by blows
f. : to sound or express especially by drumbeat
3. : to cause to strike or flap repeatedly
a bird beat ing its wings
4.
a. : overcome , defeat ; also : surpass — often used with out
b. : to prevail despite
beat the odds
c. : bewilder , baffle
it beat s me how she does it
d.
(1) : fatigue , exhaust
(2) : to leave dispirited, irresolute, or hopeless
e. : cheat , swindle
5.
a.
(1) : to act ahead of usually so as to forestall
(2) : to report a news item in advance of
b. : to come or arrive before
c. : circumvent
beat the system
d. : to outmaneuver (a defender) and get free
e. : to score against (a goalkeeper)
6. : to indicate by beating
beat the tempo
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to become forcefully impelled : dash
b. : to glare or strike with oppressive intensity
c. : to sustain distracting activity
d. : to beat a drum
2.
a.
(1) : pulsate , throb
(2) : tick
b. : to sound upon being struck
3.
a. : to strike repeated blows
beat ing on the door
b. : to strike the air : flap
c. : to strike cover in order to rouse game ; also : to range or scour for or as if for game
4. : to progress with much difficulty
5. : to sail to windward by a series of tacks
• beat·able ˈbē-tə-bəl adjective
•
- beat about the bush
- beat a retreat
- beat it
- beat one's brains out
- beat the bushes
- beat the drum
- beat the pants off
- beat the rap
- beat up on
- to beat the band
II. noun
Date: 1615
1.
a. : a single stroke or blow especially in a series ; also : pulsation , tick
b. : a sound produced by or as if by beating
c. : a driving impact or force
2. : one swing of the pendulum or balance of a timepiece
3.
a. : a regularly traversed round
the cop on the beat
b. : a group of news sources that a reporter covers regularly
4.
a. : a metrical or rhythmic stress in poetry or music or the rhythmic effect of these stresses
b. : the tempo indicated (as by a conductor) to a musical performer
c. : the pronounced rhythm that is the characteristic driving force in some types of music (as jazz or rock) ; also : rock II,2
5.
a. : one that excels
I've never seen the beat of it
b. : the reporting of a news story ahead of competitors
6. : deadbeat
7.
a. : an act of beating to windward
b. : one of the reaches so traversed : tack
8. : each of the pulsations of amplitude produced by the union of sound or radio waves or electric currents having different frequencies
9. : an accented stroke (as of one leg or foot against the other) in dancing
10. : moment
waited a beat before responding
• beat·less -ləs adjective
III. adjective
Etymology: Middle English beten, bete, from past participle of beten
Date: 1832
1.
a. : being in a state of exhaustion : exhausted
b. : sapped of resolution or morale
2. often capitalized : of, relating to, or being beatniks
beat poets
IV. noun
Usage: often capitalized
Date: 1957
: beatnik