Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary полностью

2 VERB To beat on , beat at , or beat against something means to hit it hard, usually several times or continuously for a period of time. □ [V + against ] There was dead silence but for a fly beating against the glass. □ [V + at ] Nina managed to free herself and began beating at the flames with a pillow. □ [V + on ] The rain was beating on the windowpanes. [Also V n] ● N‑SING Beat is also a noun. □  …the rhythmic beat of the surf. ●  beat|ing N‑SING □  …the silence broken only by the beating of the rain.

3 VERB When your heart or pulse beats , it continually makes regular rhythmic movements. □ [V ] I felt my heart beating faster. ● N‑COUNT Beat is also a noun. □  He could hear the beat of his heart. □  Most people's pulse rate is more than 70 beats per minute. ●  beat|ing N‑SING □  I could hear the beating of my heart.

4 VERB If you beat a drum or similar instrument, you hit it in order to make a sound. You can also say that a drum beats . □ [V n] When you beat the drum, you feel good. □ [V ] …drums beating and pipes playing. ● N‑SING Beat is also a noun. □  …the rhythmical beat of the drum.

5 N‑COUNT [usu sing] The beat of a piece of music is the main rhythm that it has. □  …the thumping beat of rock music.

6 N‑COUNT [usu pl] In music, a beat is a unit of measurement. The number of beats in a bar of a piece of music is indicated by two numbers at the beginning of the piece. □  It's got four beats to a bar.

7 → see also upbeat , downbeat

8 VERB If you beat eggs, cream, or butter, you mix them thoroughly using a fork or beater. □ [V n] Beat the eggs and sugar until they start to thicken.

9 VERB When a bird or insect beats its wings or when its wings beat , its wings move up and down. □ [V n] Beating their wings they flew off. □ [V ] Its wings beat slowly.

10 VERB If you beat someone in a competition or election, you defeat them. □ [V n] In yesterday's games, Switzerland beat the United States two-one. □ [be V -ed + into ] She was easily beaten into third place.

11 VERB If someone beats a record or achievement, they do better than it. □ [V n] He was as eager as his Captain to beat the record.

12 VERB If you beat something that you are fighting against, for example an organization, a problem, or a disease, you defeat it. □ [V n] It became clear that the Union was not going to beat the government. □  The doctor gave him the news that he'd beaten cancer.

13 VERB [usu passive] If an attack or an attempt is beaten off or is beaten back , it is stopped, often temporarily. □ [be V -ed adv] The rescuers were beaten back by strong winds and currents. □ [V adv n] …the day after government troops beat off a fierce rebel attack on its capital.

14 VERB [no cont] If you say that one thing beats another, you mean that it is better than it. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n] Being boss of a software firm beats selling insurance.

15 VERB [no cont] If you say you can't beat a particular thing you mean that it is the best thing of its kind. □ [V n] You can't beat soap and water for cleansing.

16 VERB To beat a time limit or an event means to achieve something before that time or event. □ [V n] They were trying to beat the midnight deadline.

17 N‑COUNT A police officer's or journalist's beat is the area for which he or she is responsible.

18 VERB You use beat in expressions such as 'It beats me' or 'What beats me is' to indicate that you cannot understand or explain something. [INFORMAL , SPOKEN ] □ [V n] 'What am I doing wrong, anyway?'—'Beats me, Lewis.'

19 → see also beaten , beaten-up , beating , beat-up