beat
Old Englishto strike, rhythm, pulse
Variants:beatbeaten
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About This Root
From Old English beatan (to strike, hit). Covers physical striking, rhythm, and competition — heartbeat (the heart's pulse), offbeat (away from the main rhythm), browbeat (to intimidate by 'striking' with words), and debate (originally 'to beat down' an argument). The rhythmic sense extends naturally from repeated striking.
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Associated Words · 6
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beat
To hit repeatedly; to defeat; a regular rhythm in music
debate
a formal discussion of opposing views; to argue about something
heartbeat
A single pulsation of the heart; a vital driving force
offbeat
Unusual or unconventional; an unaccented beat in music
browbeat
To intimidate or bully someone with an overbearing manner
beats
Rhythmic strokes or pulses in music; strikes or hits