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beat · verb /biːt/Full view
Nouns: beat, beating
Adjectives: unbeatable, unbeaten
Verbs: beat
beat (DEFEAT)
B1 T to defeat or do better than
Dictionary examples:

Simon always beats me at tennis.

Holland beat Belgium (by) 3-1.

The nationalists were narrowly beaten in the local election.

She has beaten her own record of three minutes ten seconds.

Learner example:

Sebastian beat me 6-2. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Thai)

beat (HEART)
B1 I When your heart beats, it makes regular movements and sounds.
Dictionary example:

By the time the doctor had arrived, his heart had stopped beating.

Learner example:

My heart was beating like a bell and I was really excit[ed]. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Slovak)

beat (HIT)
B2 T to hit a person or animal repeatedly
Dictionary examples:

They saw him beating his dog with a stick.

She was beaten to death.

Learner example:

He began to drink, and when he was drunk, he beat Kelly. (First Certificate in English; B2; Russian)

beat (SOUND)
C2 I or T to hit against something hard, making a continuous or regular sound
Dictionary examples:

soldiers beating drums

We could hear the pigeons beating their wings.

Rain beat against the windows.

Learner example:

The sound of the pelting rain beating against the sla[t]es made the minutes last longer than ever and my cosy sofa looked so cold and small. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Portuguese)

beat (BETTER THAN)
C1 T to be better than something
Dictionary example:

Being at the youth club beats sitting at home.

Learner example:

The sight of a child cured from an immobilizing disease running around laughing and dancing is pure happiness, nothing beats it. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Swedish)

you can't beat sth
C2 used to emphasize that something is best
Dictionary example:

You can't beat Pedro's for a great pizza.

Learner example:

You can't beat their "French cuisine" she usually said, when asked why didn't she change [the] place. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Spanish)

beat (FOOD)
C1 T to mix food using hard, quick movements
Dictionary example:

Beat the egg whites until they are stiff.

beat about/around the bush
C1 to avoid talking about something difficult or embarrassing
Dictionary example:

I decided to stop beating around the bush and told him exactly what I thought of him.

Learner example:

Well, let's stop beating about the bush and g[et] to the point. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Spanish)

beat up sb or beat sb up
B2 to attack someone by hitting or kicking them
Dictionary example:

He beat up one of the other prisoners.

Learner example:

He would often beat her up when he was drunk. (First Certificate in English; B2; Chinese)

beat · noun C /biːt/
Nouns: beat, beating
Adjectives: unbeatable, unbeaten
Verbs: beat
beat (REGULAR SOUND)
B2 a regular movement or sound, especially that made by your heart
Dictionary examples:

I put my head on his chest but I could feel no heart beat.

My heart missed a beat when she said, "Yes, I'll marry you".

Learner example:

She started to exhale after a moment, counting the beats of her heart. (First Certificate in English; B2; Russian)

beat (MUSIC)
B2 the main rhythm of a piece of music
Dictionary examples:

The guitar comes in on the third beat.

He tapped his foot to the beat of the music.

Learner example:

They play rock with a very good beat. (First Certificate in English; B2; German)

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