verb / noun / adjective
beat
To strike repeatedly.
The cook beats the eggs until the mixture becomes light and frothy.
Etymology
The Old English verb already means to strike or beat. This sense preserves the physical action, especially when the blows recur rather than occurring only once.
More examples
- A steady beat comes from the drummer's practice room.
- Rain beats against the closed shutters.
- After the long hike, everyone feels completely beat.
Forms
beat · beats · beaten · beating