beat

Definitions

1. verb

   To hit something again and again.

   Examples

   • He beat the drum loudly.
   • She beat him at chess.
2. noun

   A hit or strike.

   Examples

   • He gave the drum a sharp beat.
   • The boxer landed a solid beat to the ribs.
3. noun

   A regular throb, as of the heart.

   Examples

   • The doctor listened to the beat of her heart.
   • He could feel the beat of his pulse.
4. noun

   The basic unit of time in music.

   Examples

   • Tap your foot on every beat.
   • The conductor stressed the first beat of each bar.
5. noun

   The steady rhythm of music.

   Examples

   • The song has a catchy beat.
   • She danced to the steady beat of the drums.
6. noun

   The rhythm shown by a conductor for musicians to follow.

   Examples

   • The conductor set a brisk beat for the opening.
   • The musicians followed the drummer's beat closely.
7. noun

   The music backing track in hip-hop.

   Examples

   • The producer sold the beat to a rising rapper.
   • He made a new beat for the track.
8. noun

   A pulsing sound made by two notes that are almost the same.

   Examples

   • The tuner listens for beats to check the strings.
   • A slow beat means the notes are almost in tune.
9. noun

   A short pause in a play or film for effect.

   Examples

   • The script called for a beat before the punchline.
   • She paused for a beat to let the tension build.
10. noun

    The area a police officer or guard regularly patrols.

    Examples

    • The officer walked the beat every night.
    • Our man on the beat saw a light in the empty house.
11. noun

    The main subject area that a reporter covers.

    Examples

    • She covers the city hall beat for the newspaper.
    • He has worked the crime beat for over a decade.
    ≈newsbeat