Beat: meaning, definitions and examples

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beat

 

[ biːt ]

Verb / Noun
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Verb

rhythm

To strike or hit repeatedly, typically with a hand or an object.

Synonyms

batter, hit, pound, strike, thump

Examples of usage

  • He beat the drum loudly.
  • She beat the eggs in a bowl.
  • The waves beat against the shore.
  • The boxer beat his opponent in the ring.
  • The rain beat against the window.
  • The heart beat faster with excitement.
Context #2 | Noun

music

A main accent or rhythmic unit in music or poetry.

Synonyms

cadence, pulse, rhythm, tempo

Examples of usage

  • The song had a catchy beat.
  • She danced to the beat of the music.
  • He clapped along with the beat.

Translations

Translations of the word "beat" in other languages:

🇵🇹 bater

🇮🇳 पीटना

🇩🇪 schlagen

🇮🇩 memukul

🇺🇦 бити

🇵🇱 bić

🇯🇵 叩く (tataku)

🇫🇷 battre

🇪🇸 golpear

🇹🇷 dövmek

🇰🇷 때리다 (ttaerida)

🇸🇦 يضرب (yadrib)

🇨🇿 bít

🇸🇰 biť

🇨🇳 打 (dǎ)

🇸🇮 tepsti

🇮🇸 slá

🇰🇿 соққы

🇬🇪 ცემვა

🇦🇿 döymək

🇲🇽 golpear

Etymology

The word 'beat' originated from Old English 'beatan' which means to strike. Over time, it evolved to encompass various meanings related to striking or hitting. In the context of music, 'beat' refers to the rhythm or tempo. The word has a long history of usage in both literal and metaphorical senses.

See also: backbeat, beatable, beaten, beater, beating, downbeat, offbeat, unbeatability, unbeatable, upbeat.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,351, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.