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 up1. 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.