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
20 PHRASE If you intend to do something but someone beats you to it , they do it before you do. □ Don't be too long about it or you'll find someone has beaten you to it.
21 PHRASE A police officer on the beat is on duty, walking around the area for which he or she is responsible. □ The officer on the beat picks up information; hears cries for help; makes people feel safe.
22 PHRASE If you beat time to a piece of music, you move your hand or foot up and down in time with the music. A conductor beats time to show the choir or orchestra how fast they should sing or play the music. □ He beats time with hands and feet.
23 to beat someone black and blue → see black
24 to beat about the bush → see bush
25 to beat or knock the living daylights out of someone → see daylights
26 to beat the drum for someone or something → see drum
27 to beat someone at their own game → see game
28 to beat a retreat → see retreat
▸ beat down
1 PHRASAL VERB When the sun beats down , it is very hot and bright.
2 PHRASAL VERB When the rain beats down , it rains very hard. □ [V P ] Even in the winter with the rain beating down, it's nice and cosy in there.
3 PHRASAL VERB If you beat down a person who is selling you something, you force them to accept a lower price for it than they wanted to get. □ [V n P ] A fair employer, when arranging for the pay of a carpenter, does not try to beat him down. □ [V P n] Beat down the seller to the price that suits you.
▸ beat out
1 PHRASAL VERB If you beat out sounds on a drum or similar instrument, you make the sounds by hitting the instrument. □ [V P n] Drums and cymbals beat out a solemn rhythm.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you beat out a fire, you cause it to go out by hitting it, usually with an object such as a blanket. □ [V P n] His brother beat out the flames with a blanket. □ [V n P ] She managed to beat the fire out.
3 PHRASAL VERB If you beat out someone in a competition, you defeat them. [mainly AM ] □ [V P n] Indianapolis beat out nearly 100 other cities as the site for a huge United Airlines maintenance center. □ [V n P ] If we are certain a rival will beat us out, we are wide open to jealousy.