beat

verb

比赛 in game

1. （在比赛或竞争中）赢，打败（某人）
   to defeat sb in a game or competition
   1. He beat me at chess.
      他下棋赢了我。
   2. Their recent wins have proved they're still the ones to beat (= the most difficult team to beat) .
      他们最近的胜利已证明，他们仍然是最难打败的队。

控制 control

2. 控制
   to get control of sth
   1. The government's main aim is to beat inflation.
      政府的主要目标是抑制通货膨胀。

太难 be too difficult

3. 难倒
   to be too difficult for sb
   1. a problem that beats even the experts
      连专家都难以解决的问题
   2. It beats me (= I don't know) why he did it.
      我弄不懂他为什么这样做。
   3. What beats me is how it was done so quickly (= I don't understand how) .
      使我困惑不解的是，这事怎么这么快就完成了。

更好 be better

4. 比…更好；赛过；胜过
   to do or be better than sth
   1. Nothing beats home cooking.
      什么也比不上家里做的好吃。
   2. You can't beat Italian shoes.
      意大利鞋是无与伦比的。
   3. They want to beat the speed record (= go faster than anyone before) .
      他们想打破这一速度纪录。

避免 avoid

5. 避免；逃避
   to avoid sth
   1. If we go early we should beat the traffic.
      我们早点出发就会避开交通拥挤。
   2. We were up and off early to beat the heat .
      我们很早就起床出发了，趁天还没热。

击打 hit

6. 敲打；锤砸
   to hit sb/sth many times, usually very hard
   1. Somebody was beating at the door.
      有人在打门。
   2. Hailstones beat against the window.
      冰雹不断地砸在窗户上。
   3. Someone was beating a drum.
      有人在敲鼓。
   4. She was beating dust out of the carpet (= removing dust from the carpet by beating it) .
      她正在拍掉地毯上的灰尘。
   5. An elderly man was found beaten to death .
      有人发现一名老翁被打死了。
   6. At that time children were regularly beaten for quite minor offences (= a punishment) .
      那时候孩子们常常因为很小的过错而挨打。
   7. They beat him unconscious (= hit him until he became unconscious) .
      他们把他打得不省人事。

心脏；鼓；翅膀 of heart/drums/wings

7. （使）规律作响，作节奏运动
   to make, or cause sth to make, a regular sound or movement
   1. She's alive─her heart is still beating .
      她没死——她的心脏还在跳动。
   2. We heard the drums beating .
      我们听到鼓声。
   3. The bird was beating its wings (= moving them up and down) frantically.
      鸟儿没命地扑着翅膀。

搅拌 mix

8. （用叉等）快速搅拌，打
   to mix sth with short quick movements with a fork, etc.
   1. Beat the eggs up to a frothy consistency.
      把鸡蛋打成黏稠泡沫状。
   2. Beat the flour and milk together.
      把面粉和牛奶搅拌在一起。

使金属成形 shape metal

9. 把（金属等）锤炼，敲打（成…）
   to change the shape of sth, especially metal, by hitting it with a hammer , etc.
   1. beaten silver
      银箔
   2. The gold is beaten out into thin strips.
      金子被锤打成了薄薄的长条。
   3. The metal had been beaten flat.
      那块金属被锤薄了。

开辟路径 make path

10. 踏出，踩出（道路）
    to make a path, etc. by walking somewhere or by pressing branches down and walking over them
    1. a well-beaten track (= one that has been worn hard by much use)
       经过很多人踏出来的路
    2. The hunters beat a path through the undergrowth.
       猎人们在灌木丛中踩出了一条小径。

noun

鼓；心脏；翅膀 of drums/heart/wings

1. （鼓的）一击；（翅的）一振；（心脏等的）跳动；击鼓声；振翅声；跳动声
   a single blow to sth, such as a drum, or a movement of sth, such as your heart; the sound that this makes
   1. several loud beats on the drum
      几下隆隆鼓声
   2. His heart missed a beat when he saw her.
      在见到她的一刹那，他的心跳顿了一下。
2. 有规律的敲击（声）
   a series of regular blows to sth, such as a drum; the sound that this makes
   1. the steady beat of the drums
      有节奏的敲鼓声

节奏 rhythm

3. （音乐、诗歌等的）主节奏，节拍
   the main rhythm, or a unit of rhythm, in a piece of music, a poem, etc.
   1. This type of music has a strong beat to it.
      这种音乐节奏感很强。
   2. The piece has four beats to the bar.
      这首曲子每小节四拍。

警察 of police officer

4. 管区；辖区；巡逻地段
   the area which a police officer walks around regularly and which he or she is responsible for
   1. More police officers out on the beat may help to cut crime.
      增加巡逻的警察可能有助于减少罪行。

adj.

adj.

The form beat is used in the present tense and is the past tense. beat 的过去式与原形相同。


1. VERB 打；猛击
   If you beat someone or something, you hit them very hard.
   1. My wife tried to stop them and they beat her...
      我妻子想阻止他们，他们就打了她。
   2. They were beaten to death with baseball bats.
      他们被人用棒球棒打死了。
2. VERB （通常指多次或连续地）撞击，猛撞，拍打
   To beat on, at, or against something means to hit it hard, usually several times or continuously for a period of time.
   1. There was dead silence but for a fly beating against the glass...
      当时一片寂静，只听见一只苍蝇不停地撞击着玻璃。
   2. Nina managed to free herself and began beating at the flames with a pillow...
      尼娜好不容易挣脱出来，拿起枕头用力扑打火焰。
   3. The rain was beating on the windowpanes.
      雨点拍打着窗玻璃。
   4. Beat is also a noun.
      
   5. ...the rhythmic beat of the surf.
      海浪有节奏的拍打
3. VERB （心脏、脉搏等）跳动
   When your heart or pulse beats, it continually makes regular rhythmic movements.
   1. I felt my heart beating faster.
      我感觉我的心越跳越快。
   2. Beat is also a noun.
      
   3. He could hear the beat of his heart...
      他能听见自己的心跳声。
   4. Most people's pulse rate is more than 70 beats per minute.
      大多数人的脉率都在每分钟70次以上。
4. V-ERG 敲，打，击（鼓等）；（鼓等）敲响
   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 .
   1. When you beat the drum, you feel good.
      敲鼓的时候感觉很好。
   2. ...drums beating and pipes playing.
      敲鼓和吹风笛
   3. Beat is also a noun.
      
   4. ...the rhythmical beat of the drum.
      有节奏的鼓点
5. N-COUNT （音乐的）节奏
   The beat of a piece of music is the main rhythm that it has.
   1. ...the thumping beat of rock music.
      摇滚乐强烈的节奏
   2. ...the dance beats of the last two decades.
      过去20年的舞曲节奏
6. See also: It's got four beats to a bar. upbeat downbeat
7. VERB 搅拌；搅打
   If you beat eggs, cream, or butter, you mix them thoroughly using a fork or beater.
   1. Beat the eggs and sugar until they start to thicken.
      把鸡蛋和白糖混在一起搅打至开始变稠。
8. V-ERG 拍打，拍动（翅膀）；（翅膀）拍动
   When a bird or insect beats its wings or when its wings beat, its wings move up and down.
   1. Beating their wings they flew off...
      它们拍打着翅膀飞走了。
   2. Its wings beat slowly.
      它的翅膀缓慢拍动着。
9. VERB 打败；击败；战胜
   If you beat someone in a competition or election, you defeat them.
   1. In yesterday's games, Switzerland beat the United States two-one...
      在昨天的比赛中，瑞士以2比1击败美国。
   2. There are men who simply don't like being beaten by a woman...
      有些男人就是不想被女人打败。
   3. She was easily beaten into third place.
      她轻易落败，跌至第三。
10. VERB 打破（纪录等）；超过； 突破
    If someone beats a record or achievement, they do better than it.
    1. He was as eager as his Captain to beat the record.
       他和队长一样渴望打破这项纪录。
11. VERB 战胜（某个组织、问题、疾病等）
    If you beat something that you are fighting against, for example an organization, a problem, or a disease, you defeat it.
    1. It became clear that the Union was not going to beat the government...
       情况已然明朗，工会无法和政府抗衡。
    2. They recognise that tough action offers the only hope of beating inflation...
       他们认识到这一严厉举措是战胜通货膨胀的唯一希望。
    3. Kate Jackson is expecting her first child at 43—two years after beating breast cancer.
       凯特·杰克逊在43岁的时候怀上了第一个孩子——那时她战胜乳腺癌已经有两年了。
12. VERB （常指暂时）击退，中断，中止
    If an attack or an attempt is beaten off or is beaten back, it is stopped, often temporarily.
    1. The rescuers were beaten back by strong winds and currents...
       救援人员因风浪太大而被迫中断工作。
    2. South Africa's ruling National Party has beaten off a right-wing challenge.
       南非执政的国民党已经击退了右翼分子的一次挑战。
13. VERB 好于；优于；胜于
    If you say that one thing beats another, you mean that it is better than it.
    1. Being boss of a software firm beats selling insurance...
       当软件公司的老板比卖保险强多了。
    2. Nothing quite beats the luxury of soaking in a long, hot bath at the end of a tiring day...
       辛苦一天之后美美地泡个热水澡比什么都强。
    3. For an evening stroll the beach at Dieppe is hard to beat.
       傍晚散步去迪耶普的海滩简直是不二之选。
14. VERB 没有比…更好的；什么也比不上；最好的莫过于
    If you say you can't beat a particular thing you mean that it is the best thing of its kind.
    1. You can't beat soap and water for cleansing.
       做清洁没有比用肥皂和水更好的了。
15. VERB 赶在…前面；抢先
    To beat a time limit or an event means to achieve something before that time or event.
    1. They were trying to beat the midnight deadline...
       他们要努力赶在午夜的最后期限之前完成。
    2. Those who shop on Sunday to beat the rush are wasting their time.
       那些为了在抢购高峰前下手而在星期天购物的人是在浪费时间。
16. N-COUNT （警察的）辖区，巡逻区；（记者的）负责采访的区域
    A police officer's or journalist's beat is the area for which he or she is responsible.
    1. The team police get to know the people in their patrol areas better than cops who must cover a larger beat.
       小分队的警察比那些负责大片区域的警察更了解自己管片的群众。
17. VERB 把…难住；使不明白；使无法解释
    You use beat in expressions such as 'It beats me' or 'What beats me is' to indicate that you cannot understand or explain something.
    1. 'What am I doing wrong, anyway?' — 'Beats me, Lewis.'...
       “不管怎样，我到底做错了什么？”——“这我也不知道，刘易斯。”
    2. How you can be so insensitive absolutely beats me.
       我真搞不懂你怎么会这么麻木。
18. PHRASE 滚开；走开
    If you tell someone to beat it, you are telling them to go away.
    1. Beat it before it's too late.
       趁早滚开。
19. CONVENTION （表示惊讶或恼怒）竟然有这种事？岂有此理！
    You can say Can you beat it? or Can you beat that? to show that you are surprised and perhaps annoyed about something.
    1. Can you beat it; there was Graham Greene in Freetown and there was I on the other side of Africa.
       真是岂有此理！格雷厄姆·格林在弗里敦，而我却在非洲的另一边。
20. See also: beaten beaten-up beating beat-up
21. PHRASE 比…抢先行动；赶在…前面（做某事）
    If you intend to do something but someone beats you to it, they do it before you do.
    1. Don't be too long about it or you'll find someone has beaten you to it.
       别拖得太久，不然就会有人捷足先登了。
22. 打不过，就入伙
    If you can't beat them, join them means that, if someone is too strong for you to defeat, it is better to be on the same side as them.
23. PHRASE 停顿；犹豫
    If you say or do something without missing a beat, you continue to speak or do it, even though people might have expected you to hesitate or stop.
    1. 'Are you jealous?' — 'Only when I'm not in control,' he says, not missing a beat.
       “你眼红吗？”——“除非我把持不住自己，”他毫不犹豫地说道。
24. PHRASE 错失机会
    If you say that someone never misses a beat, you mean that they always know what is going on and how they can take advantage of it.
    1. Skye has scarcely missed a beat as one of the Gold Coast's spectacular models since her marriage.
       丝凯作为黄金海岸大红大紫的模特儿，自结婚以后从来就没有错失过任何机会。
25. PHRASE （警察）值勤，当班，巡逻
    A police officer on the beat is on duty, walking around the area for which he or she is responsible.
    1. The officer on the beat picks up information; hears cries for help; makes people feel safe.
       值勤警员注意观察情况，对救援呼叫及时反应，确保让百姓有一种安全感。
26. PHRASE 打拍子
    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.
    1. He beats time with hands and feet.
       他手脚并用地打着拍子。
27. to beat someone black and blue → see: black

1. My wife tried to stop them and they beat her
   我妻子想阻止他们，他们就打了她。
2. They were beaten to death with baseball bats.
   他们被人用棒球棒打死了。
3. There was dead silence but for a fly beating against the glass
   当时一片寂静，只听见一只苍蝇不停地撞击着玻璃。
4. Nina managed to free herself and began beating at the flames with a pillow
   尼娜好不容易挣脱出来，拿起枕头用力扑打火焰。
5. The rain was beating on the windowpanes.
   雨点拍打着窗玻璃。
6. I felt my heart beating faster.
   我感觉我的心越跳越快。
7. When you beat the drum, you feel good.
   敲鼓的时候感觉很好。
8. It's got four beats to a bar.
   一个小节有4拍。
9. Beat the eggs and sugar until they start to thicken.
   把鸡蛋和白糖混在一起搅打至开始变稠。
10. Beating their wings they flew off
    它们拍打着翅膀飞走了。
11. Its wings beat slowly.
    它的翅膀缓慢拍动着。
12. In yesterday's games, Switzerland beat the United States two-one
    在昨天的比赛中，瑞士以2比1击败美国。
13. There are men who simply don't like being beaten by a woman
    有些男人就是不想被女人打败。
14. She was easily beaten into third place.
    她轻易落败，跌至第三。
15. He was as eager as his Captain to beat the record.
    他和队长一样渴望打破这项纪录。
16. It became clear that the Union was not going to beat the government
    情况已然明朗，工会无法和政府抗衡。
17. They recognise that tough action offers the only hope of beating inflation
    他们认识到这一严厉举措是战胜通货膨胀的唯一希望。
18. Kate Jackson is expecting her first child at 43 — two years after beating breast cancer.
    凯特·杰克逊在43岁的时候怀上了第一个孩子——那时她战胜乳腺癌已经有两年了。
19. The rescuers were beaten back by strong winds and currents
    救援人员因风浪太大而被迫中断工作。
20. Being boss of a software firm beats selling insurance
    当软件公司的老板比卖保险强多了。
21. You can't beat soap and water for cleansing.
    做清洁没有比用肥皂和水更好的了。
22. The team police get to know the people in their patrol areas better than cops who must cover a larger beat.
    小分队的警察比那些负责大片区域的警察更了解自己管片的群众。
23. 'What am I doing wrong, anyway?' — 'Beats me, Lewis.'
    “不管怎样，我到底做错了什么？”——“这我也不知道，刘易斯。”
24. Beat it before it's too late.
    趁早滚开。
25. Can you beat it; there was Graham Greene in Freetown and there was I on the other side of Africa.
    真是岂有此理！格雷厄姆·格林在弗里敦，而我却在非洲的另一边。
26. Don't be too long about it or you'll find someone has beaten you to it.
    别拖得太久，不然就会有人捷足先登了。
27. 'Are you jealous?' — 'Only when I'm not in control,' he says, not missing a beat.
    “你眼红吗？”——“除非我把持不住自己，”他毫不犹豫地说道。
28. Skye has scarcely missed a beat as one of the Gold Coast's spectacular models since her marriage.
    丝凯作为黄金海岸大红大紫的模特儿，自结婚以后从来就没有错失过任何机会。
29. The officer on the beat picks up information; hears cries for help; makes people feel safe.
    值勤警员注意观察情况，对救援呼叫及时反应，确保让百姓有一种安全感。
30. He beats time with hands and feet.
    他手脚并用地打着拍子。

  beat flutter pound pulsate thump【导航词义：跳动；拍动】

  beat v. （心脏）跳动；拍动（翅膀）

〔辨析〕尤指心脏有规律地跳动，或指鸟类有节奏地拍打翅膀。

  flutter v. 拍打（翅膀），振（翼）

〔辨析〕特指鸟儿或有翅膀的昆虫快速而轻轻地振动翅膀。

  pound v. （心脏）狂跳；连续重击

〔辨析〕指激动、生气、愤怒等时心脏剧烈地跳动；也指使劲地连续击打。

  pulsate v. 搏动，跳动

〔辨析〕指心脏、动脉等有规律地振动或有节奏地舒张和收缩。

  thump v. （心脏）怦怦地跳

〔辨析〕指因恐惧或激动而心脏怦怦直跳。

  defeat beat checkmate【导航词义：战胜】

  defeat v. 击败，战胜

〔辨析〕常指在战争、比赛、竞争等中战胜对手。

  beat v. 打败，战胜

〔辨析〕作此义解时，常可与 defeat 换用。

  checkmate v. 使败北；将死

〔辨析〕指彻底战败对手等；在国际象棋中也指把国王将死。

  strike beat hit knock【导航词义：击打】

  strike v. 打，击

〔辨析〕较正式用词，指迅速或突然地用力一击或敲击，可以是有意的，也可以是无意的。

  beat v. 连续击打，击败

〔辨析〕普通用词，指用手或器械连续击打，也指在游戏、竞赛或战争中战胜对手。

  hit v. 打，打击

〔辨析〕普通用词，指有目标地猛击，强调用力击中；引申指在精神、经济等方面予以打击。

  knock v. 敲，击，打

〔辨析〕指用拳头或器械猛敲、猛打，强调非常用力。

beat sth↔down

1. 砸开，砸破（门等）
   to hit a door, etc. many times until it breaks open

beat down (on sb/sth)

1. （阳光）强烈照射，曝晒
   if the sun beats down it shines with great heat

beat sb/sth down (to sth)

1. 说服某人降价；杀价
   to persuade sb to reduce the price at which they are selling sth

beat off

1. 手淫
   to masturbate

beat sb/sth↔off

1. 击退；驱走
   to force sb/sth back or away by fighting

beat sth↔out

1. 敲打出节奏
   to produce a rhythm by hitting sth many times
2. 扑打灭（火）
   to put a fire out by beating
   1. Somebody was beating at the door.
      有人在打门。
   2. Hailstones beat against the window.
      冰雹不断地砸在窗户上。
   3. Someone was beating a drum.
      有人在敲鼓。
   4. She was beating dust out of the carpet (= removing dust from the carpet by beating it) .
      她正在拍掉地毯上的灰尘。
   5. An elderly man was found beaten to death .
      有人发现一名老翁被打死了。
   6. At that time children were regularly beaten for quite minor offences (= a punishment) .
      那时候孩子们常常因为很小的过错而挨打。
   7. They beat him unconscious (= hit him until he became unconscious) .
      他们把他打得不省人事。
3. 敲掉；锤平
   to remove sth by hitting it with a hammer , etc.

beat sb out of sth

1. （从某人）骗取，骗得
   to cheat sb by taking sth from them

beat sb to sth/…

beat sb to it

1. 抢先；捷足先登
   to get somewhere or do sth before sb else
   1. beaten silver
      银箔
   2. The gold is beaten out into thin strips.
      金子被锤打成了薄薄的长条。
   3. The metal had been beaten flat.
      那块金属被锤薄了。

beat sb↔up

1. 痛殴；毒打
   to hit or kick sb hard, many times
   1. a well-beaten track (= one that has been worn hard by much use)
      经过很多人踏出来的路
   2. The hunters beat a path through the undergrowth.
      猎人们在灌木丛中踩出了一条小径。

beat up on sb

1. 狠打，虐待（弱小者）
   to hit sb hard, especially sb who is young or weak

beat yourself up (about/over sth)

1. （为某事）过分自责
   to blame yourself too much for sth
   1. the steady beat of the drums
      有节奏的敲鼓声

v.

beat about the bush

• 拐弯抹角地讲话；绕圈子
  to talk about sth for a long time without coming to the main point
  1. Stop beating about the bush and tell me what you want.
     别绕来绕去了，告诉我你想要什么吧。

beat sb at their own game

• 赢某人的看家本领；打败某人的强项
  to defeat or do better than sb in an activity which they have chosen or in which they think they are strong

beat your brains out

• 绞尽脑汁；反复推敲
  to think very hard about sth for a long time

beat your breast

• 捶胸顿足（尤指对自己的作为刻意表示悲伤或愧疚）
  to show that you feel sorry about sth that you have done, especially in public and in an exaggerated way

beat the clock

• 提前完成任务（或跑到终点等）
  to finish a task, race, etc. before a particular time

beat it

• 滚开；立即走开
  to go away immediately
  1. This is private land, so beat it!
     这里是私人土地，滚开！

beat a path to sb's door

• 使门庭若市；蜂拥而至；使成注意焦点
  if a lot of people beat a path to sb's door , they are all interested in sth that person has to sell, or can do or tell them
  1. Top theatrical agents are beating a path to the teenager's door.
     顶尖级戏剧演员代理人正纷纷把目光投向那个十多岁的孩子。

beat the rap

• 逃脱惩罚
  to escape without being punished

beat a (hasty) retreat

• （仓促）逃走；（慌忙）撤退
  to go away or back quickly, especially to avoid sth unpleasant

beat time (to sth)

• （随着音乐）打拍子
  to mark or follow the rhythm of music, by waving a stick, tapping your foot, etc.
  1. She beat time with her fingers.
     她用手指打拍子。

beat sb to the punch

• 抢先下手；抢在前面
  to get or do sth before sb else can

can you beat that/it!

• 难以置信；太不像话
  used to express surprise or anger

if you can't beat them, join them

• 打不赢，就投靠
  if you cannot defeat sb or be as successful as they are, then it is more sensible to join them in what they are doing and perhaps get some advantage for yourself by doing so

off the beaten track

• 远离闹市；偏远
  far away from other people, houses, etc.
  1. They live miles off the beaten track.
     他们住在偏远地带。

a rod/stick to beat sb with

• 用以责备或惩罚某人的事实依据（或把柄等）
  a fact, an argument, etc. that is used in order to blame or punish sb

take some beating

• 难以超越
  to be difficult to beat
  1. That score is going to take some beating.
     这一得分将很难超过。
  2. For sheer luxury, this hotel takes some beating.
     单看豪华的程度，这家旅馆是难以超越的。

(beat sb) black and blue

• （把某人打得）青一块紫一块，伤痕斑斑
  (to hit sb until they are) covered with bruises (= blue, brown or purple marks on the body)

beat/knock the (living) daylights out of sb

• 把某人狠揍一顿
  to hit sb very hard several times and hurt them very much

beat/bang the drum (for sb/sth)

• （为…）竭力鼓吹，摇旗呐喊
  to speak with enthusiasm in support of sb/sth

beat/kick (the) hell out of sb/sth

knock hell out of sb/sth

• 猛击；狠打
  to hit sb/sth very hard
  1. He was a dirty player and loved to kick hell out of the opposition.
     他是个不讲体育道德的球员，喜欢猛力冲撞对方。

n.

sb's heart misses a beat

• 心里咯噔一下（表示突然感到恐惧、兴奋等）
  used to say that sb has a sudden feeling of fear, excitement, etc.

walk the beat

• 在辖区值勤巡逻
  to walk around the area that they are responsible for

noun

1. the act of beating to windward

2. a stroke or blow
   1. the signal was two beats on the steam pipe

3. a regular rate of repetition
   1. the cox raised the beat

4. the basic rhythmic unit in a piece of music
   1. the piece has a fast rhythm
   2. the conductor set the beat

   Synonym:    rhythmmusical rhythm

5. (prosody) the accent in a metrical foot of verse

   Synonym:    metermetremeasurecadence

6. the sound of stroke or blow
   1. he heard the beat of a drum

7. the rhythmic contraction and expansion of the arteries with each beat of the heart
   1. he could feel the beat of her heart

   Synonym:    pulsepulsationheartbeat

8. a regular route for a sentry or policeman
   1. in the old days a policeman walked a beat and knew all his people by name

   Synonym:    round

9. a member of the beat generation

   Synonym:    beatnik

10. a single pulsation of an oscillation produced by adding two waves of different frequencies

verb

1. wear out completely
   1. This kind of work exhausts me
   2. I'm beat
   3. He was all washed up after the exam

   Synonym:    exhaustwash uptuckertucker out

2. be a mystery or bewildering to
   1. This beats me!
   2. Got me--I don't know the answer!
   3. a vexing problem
   4. This question really stuck me

   Synonym:    perplexvexstickgetpuzzlemystifybaffleposebewilderflummoxstupefynonplusgravelamazedumbfound

3. come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
   1. Agassi beat Becker in the tennis championship
   2. We beat the competition
   3. Harvard defeated Yale in the last football game

   Synonym:    beat outcrushshelltrouncevanquish

4. beat through cleverness and wit
   1. I beat the traffic
   2. She outfoxed her competitors

   Synonym:    outwitoverreachoutsmartoutfoxcircumvent

5. give a beating to
   1. Thugs beat him up when he walked down the street late at night
   2. The teacher used to beat the students

   Synonym:    beat upwork over

6. hit repeatedly
   1. beat on the door
   2. beat the table with his shoe

7. strike (water or bushes) repeatedly to rouse animals for hunting

8. strike (a part of one's own body) repeatedly, as in great emotion or in accompaniment to music
   1. beat one's breast
   2. beat one's foot rhythmically

9. stir vigorously
   1. beat the egg whites
   2. beat the cream

   Synonym:    scramble

10. shape by beating
    1. beat swords into ploughshares

11. produce a rhythm by striking repeatedly
    1. beat the drum

12. make by pounding or trampling
    1. beat a path through the forest

13. move with or as if with a regular alternating motion
    1. the city pulsated with music and excitement

    Synonym:    pulsatequiver

14. move rhythmically
    1. Her heart was beating fast

    Synonym:    poundthump

15. indicate by beating, as with the fingers or drumsticks
    1. Beat the rhythm

16. sail with much tacking or with difficulty
    1. The boat beat in the strong wind

17. move with a flapping motion
    1. The bird's wings were flapping

    Synonym:    flap

18. move with a thrashing motion
    1. The bird flapped its wings
    2. The eagle beat its wings and soared high into the sky

    Synonym:    flap

19. glare or strike with great intensity
    1. The sun was beating down on us

20. make a rhythmic sound
    1. Rain drummed against the windshield
    2. The drums beat all night

    Synonym:    drumthrum

21. make a sound like a clock or a timer
    1. the clocks were ticking
    2. the grandfather clock beat midnight

    Synonym:    tickticktockticktack

22. avoid paying
    1. beat the subway fare

    Synonym:    bunk

23. be superior
    1. Reading beats watching television
    2. This sure beats work!