verb
/ˈbiːt/ beat; beaten /ˈbiːtn̩/ or chiefly US beat; beating
to hit (something) repeatedly [+ obj]
[+ obj] :to hit (someone) repeatedly in order to cause pain or injury
to hit (a drum) repeatedly in order to produce music or a signal [+ obj]
cooking :to stir or mix (something) in a forceful way [+ obj]
to move (wings) with an up and down motion [+ obj]
[no obj] of the heart :to make the regular movements needed to pump blood
[+ obj] to defeat (someone) in a game, contest, etc.
People say if you can't beat them, join them or if you can't beat 'em, join 'em when they decide to do what other people are doing and to stop opposing them.
to do better than (something)
People say can you beat that? when they are surprised or angry about something.
c not used in progressive tenses :to be better than (something)
to control or overcome (something)
to be too difficult for (someone)
The informal expression (it) beats me means I don't know.
[+ obj] to come, arrive, or act before (someone or something)
to avoid having problems with (something) by acting earlier
beat a dead horse
beat a path
to make (a path) by walking over the ground many times
beat a retreat
to leave quickly
beat around/about the bush
beat back
[phrasal verb]
beat back (someone) or beat (someone) back :to force (someone) to go back or to retreat by fighting
beat down
[phrasal verb]
of the sun :to shine down with great heat and strength
beat (something) down or beat down (something) :to hit (something, such as a door) so that it falls down
chiefly Brit
a beat (someone) down or beat down (someone) :to cause (someone) to lower a price
b beat (a price) down or beat down (a price) :to cause someone to lower (a price)
beat it
informal :to go away quickly
beat off
[phrasal verb]
beat off (someone or something) or beat (someone or something) off :to force (someone or something) to go away by fighting
US informal + impolite of a man :masturbate
beat out
[phrasal verb]
beat out (something) or beat (something) out
to put out (a fire) by beating
b baseball :to turn (a ground ball) into a base hit by running fast to first base
beat out (someone or something) or beat (someone or something) out US :to defeat or overcome (a person, team, etc.)
beat someone to the punch
beat the clock
beat the rap
beat up
[phrasal verb]
beat up (someone) or beat (someone) up :to hurt or injure (someone) by hitting
beat up on
[phrasal verb]
beat up on (someone) US informal :to hit (someone) repeatedly in order to cause pain or injury :to beat (someone)
to beat the band
noun
plural beats
[count] :the act of beating
[singular] :a sound produced by beating
[count] :a loud or strong sound that occurs regularly in music or poetry
[singular] :the regular pattern of sounds in music or poetry :rhythm
[count] :a place or area that someone (such as a policeman) regularly goes to, walks through, or covers as part of a job - usually singular
miss a beat
chiefly US :to have difficulty in continuing :to stop or hesitate briefly
adjective
not used before a noun
informal :very tired :exhausted