beat

beat / bēt/ • v. (past beat ; past part. beat·en / ˈbētn/ ) [tr.] 1. strike (a person or an animal) repeatedly and violently so as to hurt or injure them, usually with an implement such as a club or whip: she beat me with a stick for the slightest misdemeanor. ∎  strike (an object) repeatedly so as to make a noise: he beat the table with his hand. ∎  [intr.] (of an instrument) make a rhythmical sound by being struck: drums were beating in the distance. ∎  flatten or shape (metal) by striking it repeatedly with a hammer: pure gold can be beaten out to form very thin sheets. ∎  move across (an area of land) repeatedly striking at the ground cover in order to raise game birds for shooting. 2. defeat (someone) in a game, competition, election, or commercial venture: she beat him easily at chess. ∎ inf. baffle: it beats me how you manage to work in this heat. ∎  overcome (a problem, or disease): they are investing their savings in hopes of beating inflation. ∎  do or be better than (a record or score): he beat his own world record. ∎ inf. be better than: you can't beat the taste of fresh raspberries. 3. succeed in getting somewhere ahead of (someone): I could beat him on my bicycle. ∎  take action to avoid (difficult or inconvenient effects of an event or circumstance): they set off early to beat the traffic. 4. [intr.] (of the heart) pulsate: her heart beat faster with panic. 5. (of a bird) move (the wings) up and down. ∎  (of a bird or its wings) make rhythmic movements through (the air): black-tipped wings beat the air. 6. stir (cooking ingredients) vigorously with a fork, whisk, or beater to make a smooth or frothy mixture. 7. (beat it) inf. leave: [in imper.] now beat it, will you! • n. 1. a main accent or rhythmic unit in music or poetry: the glissando begins on the second beat. ∎  a strong rhythm in popular music: the music changed to a funky disco beat. ∎  [in sing] a regular, rhythmic sound or movement: the beat of the wipers became almost hypnotic. ∎  the sound made when something, typically a musical instrument, is struck: he heard a regular drumbeat. ∎  a pulsation of the heart. ∎  a periodic variation of sound or amplitude due to the combination of two sounds, electrical signals, or other vibrations having similar but not identical frequencies. ∎  the movement of a bird's wings. 2. an area allocated to a police officer to patrol: a patrolman who strived to make his beat a safe one public clamor for more police officers on the beat. ∎  a spell of duty allocated to a police officer: her beat ended at 6 a.m. ∎  an area regularly frequented by someone, typically a prostitute. ∎ fig. a person's area of interest: his beat is construction, property, and hotels. 3. a brief pause or moment of hesitation, typically one lasting a specified length: she waited for a beat of three seconds. • adj. 1. infomal completely exhausted: I'm dead beat. 2. of or relating to the beat generation or its philosophy: beat poet Allen Ginsberg. PHRASES: beat all be amazing or impressive: well, that beats all. beat around the bush discuss a matter without coming to the point. beat someone's brains outsee brain. beat the bushes inf. search thoroughly: I was out beating the bushes for investors to split the risk. beat the clock perform a task quickly or within a fixed time limit. beat a dead horse waste energy on a lost cause or unalterable situation. beat the hell out of inf. 1. beat (someone) very severely. 2. surpass or defeat easily. beat the pants off inf. prove to be vastly superior to. beat a path to someone's door (of a large number of people) hasten to make contact with someone regarded as interesting or inspiring, or in association with whom one stands to profit. beat a (hasty) retreat withdraw, typically in order to avoid something unpleasant: as the bombs started to go off, they beat a hasty retreat across the field. beat the shit out of vulgar slang beat (someone) very severely. beat the system succeed in finding a means of getting around rules, regulations, or other means of control. beat time indicate or follow a musical tempo with a baton or other means. miss a beatsee miss¹ . to beat all ——s that is infinitely better than all the things mentioned: a PC screen saver to beat all screen savers. to beat the band inf. in such a way as to surpass all competition: they were talking to beat the band.PHRASAL VERBS: beat someone back (usu. be beaten back) force (someone attempting to do something) to retreat: I tried to get in but was beaten back by the flames. beat down (of the sun) radiate intense heat and brightness. ∎  (of rain) fall hard and continuously. beat something down quell defense or resistance. beat off vulgar slang (of a man) masturbate. beat someone/something off succeed in resisting an attacker or an attack. ∎  win against a challenge or rival. beat something out produce a loud, rhythmic sound by striking something: he beat out a rhythm on the drums. beat someone up 1. assault and severely injure someone by hitting, kicking, or punching them repeatedly. 2. abuse someone verbally. beat up onanother way of saying beat someone up.DERIVATIVES: beat·a·ble adj.