beat beat /ˈbiːt/

adjective

1. [Informal] Very tired  ( all in , beat [Informal] , bushed , dead [Informal] )
   very tired
    Was all in at the end of the day
   was all in at the end of the day
    So beat I could flop down and go to sleep anywhere
   so beat I could flop down and go to sleep anywhere
    Bushed after all that exercise
   bushed after all that exercise
    I'm dead after that long trip
   I'm dead after that long trip
   

noun

1. () The basic rhythmic unit in a piece of music  ( musical rhythm , beat , rhythm )
   the basic rhythmic unit in a piece of music
    The piece has a fast rhythm
   the piece has a fast rhythm
    The conductor set the beat
   the conductor set the beat
   
   
2. () The rhythmic contraction and expansion of the arteries with each beat of the heart  ( pulsation , beat , pulse , heartbeat )
   the rhythmic contraction and expansion of the arteries with each beat of the heart
    He could feel the beat of her heart
   he could feel the beat of her heart
   
   
3. () A regular route for a sentry or policeman  ( beat , round )
   a regular route for a sentry or policeman
    In the old days a policeman walked a beat and knew all his people by name
   in the old days a policeman walked a beat and knew all his people by name
   
4. The act of beating to windward; sailing as close as possible to the direction from which the wind is blowing  ( beat )
   the act of beating to windward; sailing as close as possible to the direction from which the wind is blowing
   
5. A stroke or blow  ( beat )
   a stroke or blow
    The signal was two beats on the steam pipe
   the signal was two beats on the steam pipe
   
6. A regular rate of repetition  ( beat )
   a regular rate of repetition
    The cox raised the beat
   the cox raised the beat
   
7. (prosody) the accent in a metrical foot of verse  ( beat , meter [American] , metre [Canadian, British] , cadence , measure )
   (prosody) the accent in a metrical foot of verse
   
   
8. The sound of stroke or blow  ( beat )
   the sound of stroke or blow
    He heard the beat of a drum
   he heard the beat of a drum
   
9. A member of the beat generation; a nonconformist in dress and behavior  ( beat , beatnik )
   a member of the beat generation; a nonconformist in dress and behavior
   
10. A single pulsation of an oscillation produced by adding two waves of different frequencies; has a frequency equal to the difference between the two oscillations  ( beat )
    a single pulsation of an oscillation produced by adding two waves of different frequencies; has a frequency equal to the difference between the two oscillations
    

verb

1. () Come out better in a competition, race, or conflict  ( shell , trounce , vanquish , beat , beat out , crush )
   come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
    Agassi beat Becker in the tennis championship
   Agassi beat Becker in the tennis championship
    We beat the competition
   We beat the competition
    Harvard defeated Yale in the last football game
   Harvard defeated Yale in the last football game
   
2. () Give a beating to; subject to a beating, either as a punishment or as an act of aggression  ( beat up , work over , beat )
   give a beating to; subject to a beating, either as a punishment or as an act of aggression
    Thugs beat him up when he walked down the street late at night
   Thugs beat him up when he walked down the street late at night
    The teacher used to beat the students
   The teacher used to beat the students
   
3. () Hit repeatedly  ( beat )
   hit repeatedly
    Beat on the door
   beat on the door
    Beat the table with his shoe
   beat the table with his shoe
   
4. () Move rhythmically  ( pound , thump , beat )
   move rhythmically
    Her heart was beating fast
   Her heart was beating fast
   
5. () Shape by beating  ( beat )
   shape by beating
    Beat swords into ploughshares
   beat swords into ploughshares
   
6. () Make a rhythmic sound  ( thrum , drum , beat )
   make a rhythmic sound
    Rain drummed against the windshield
   Rain drummed against the windshield
    The drums beat all night
   The drums beat all night
   
7. () Strike (a part of one's own body) repeatedly, as in great emotion or in accompaniment to music  ( beat )
   strike (a part of one's own body) repeatedly, as in great emotion or in accompaniment to music
    Beat one's breast
   beat one's breast
    Beat one's foot rhythmically
   beat one's foot rhythmically
   
8. () (cooking) stir vigorously  ( scramble , beat )
   (cooking) stir vigorously
    Beat the egg whites
   beat the egg whites
    Beat the cream
   beat the cream
   
9. () Sail with much tacking or with difficulty  ( beat )
   sail with much tacking or with difficulty
    The boat beat in the strong wind
   The boat beat in the strong wind
   
10. () Move with a thrashing motion  ( beat , flap )
    move with a thrashing motion
     The bird flapped its wings
    The bird flapped its wings
     The eagle beat its wings and soared high into the sky
    The eagle beat its wings and soared high into the sky
    
11. () Glare or strike with great intensity  ( beat )
    glare or strike with great intensity
     The sun was beating down on us
    The sun was beating down on us
    
12. [Informal] Wear out completely  ( beat [Informal] , tucker [Informal, N. American] , tucker out [Informal, N. American] , exhaust , wash up )
    wear out completely
     This kind of work exhausts me
    This kind of work exhausts me
     I'm beat
    I'm beat
     He was all washed up after the exam
    He was all washed up after the exam
    
13. Be a mystery or bewildering to  ( beat , dumbfound , flummox , get , gravel , nonplus , perplex , pose , stick , amaze , baffle , bewilder , mystify , puzzle , stupefy , vex )
    be a mystery or bewildering to
     This beats me!
    This beats me!
     Got me--I don't know the answer!
    Got me--I don't know the answer!
     A vexing problem
    a vexing problem
     This question really stuck me
    This question really stuck me
    
14. Beat through cleverness and wit  ( beat , circumvent , outfox , outsmart , outwit , overreach , outthink )
    beat through cleverness and wit
     I beat the traffic
    I beat the traffic
     She outfoxed her competitors
    She outfoxed her competitors
    
15. Strike (water or bushes) repeatedly to rouse animals for hunting  ( beat )
    strike (water or bushes) repeatedly to rouse animals for hunting
    
16. (music) produce a rhythm by striking repeatedly  ( beat )
    (music) produce a rhythm by striking repeatedly
     Beat the drum
    beat the drum
    
17. Make by pounding or trampling  ( beat )
    make by pounding or trampling
     Beat a path through the forest
    beat a path through the forest
    
18. Move with or as if with a regular alternating motion  ( beat , pulsate , quiver )
    move with or as if with a regular alternating motion
     The city pulsated with music and excitement
    the city pulsated with music and excitement
    
19. Indicate by beating, as with the fingers or drumsticks  ( beat )
    indicate by beating, as with the fingers or drumsticks
     Beat the rhythm
    Beat the rhythm
    
20. Move with a flapping motion  ( beat , flap )
    move with a flapping motion
     The bird's wings were flapping
    The bird's wings were flapping
    
21. Make a sound like a clock or a timer  ( beat , ticktack [ N. American] , ticktock , tick )
    make a sound like a clock or a timer
     The clocks were ticking
    the clocks were ticking
     The grandfather clock beat midnight
    the grandfather clock beat midnight
    
22. Avoid paying  ( beat , bunk [Informal] )
    avoid paying
     Beat the subway fare
    beat the subway fare
    
23. Be superior  ( beat )
    be superior
     Reading beats watching television
    Reading beats watching television
     This sure beats work!
    This sure beats work!