beating

beating — noun

1. a bad loss, especially one where the other side wins easily

1.名詞C1
釋義

a bad loss, especially one where the other side wins easily

例句

United took a beating in Seoul and lost four-one.

take a beating = suffer a heavy defeat

After two weak debates, the mayor faced another beating at the polls.

同義詞
  • defeat

    the broadest and most neutral choice

  • drubbing

    more informal and stresses how one-sided the result was

  • rout

    suggests a very easy win for the other side

  • setback

    weaker and not always as complete or public

反義詞
  • victory

    the result of winning instead of losing

  • triumph

    a stronger word for a clear or impressive win

文法句型

take a beating

suffer a beating

hand someone a beating

用法筆記

Often follows take, get, suffer, or hand somebody. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about physical violence to a person rather than losing a game, vote, or other contest.

常見錯誤

❌Our team received a beating of 4-1.
✅Our team took a beating and lost 4-1.
💡take a beating is the usual pattern for this sense.

2. a violent punishment or attack in which someone is hit many times

2.名詞C1
釋義

a violent punishment or attack in which someone is hit many times

例句

The guard gave the prisoner a beating after lights out.

give someone a beating

Police found blood on the stairs after the beating in the hall.

同義詞
  • assault

    broader and often used in legal or official contexts

  • battering

    stresses the physical damage caused by repeated blows

  • thrashing

    informal and often suggests a very severe attack

  • pummeling

    especially American and often suggests repeated punches

反義詞
  • protection

    focuses on keeping someone safe from harm

文法句型

give someone a beating

take a beating

after a beating

用法筆記

Usually appears with verbs like give, get, take, or suffer. Common in reports about crime or abuse, and unlike sense 1 it refers to repeated blows to a person or animal.

常見錯誤

❌He got beat by the gang.
✅He took a beating from the gang.
💡when you use the noun beating, the usual verb is take or get.

3. a steady sound or movement made by repeated strikes, as in a drum or a heart

3.名詞C2
釋義

a steady sound or movement made by repeated strikes, as in a drum or a heart

例句

By dusk, the beating of drums rolled across the square.

beating of + noun

All night, Marta listened to the beating of rain on the tent.

beating of + noun for a repeated sound

同義詞
  • pulse

    mainly used for the movement of blood or the heart

  • throb

    suggests a strong repeated beat that can also be felt

  • rhythm

    focuses on the regular pattern more than the sound itself

反義詞
  • stillness

    suggests an absence of movement or repeated sound

文法句型

the beating of drums

the beating in someone's chest

hear the beating of wings

用法筆記

Often appears in the pattern beating of + noun, especially with drums, wings, or other repeated movements. For the ordinary everyday sense of a person's heart, heartbeat is usually more natural.

常見錯誤

❌The doctor checked my beating.
✅The doctor checked my heartbeat.
💡heartbeat is the usual everyday word for a person's heart movement.