beat-up

[ beet-uhp ]
/ ˈbitˈʌp /

adjective

Informal. dilapidated; in poor condition from use: a beat-up old jalopy.

noun

the warpwise count of tufts of pile in the warp of carpets.

Origin of beat-up

First recorded in 1935–40; adj., noun use of verb phrase beat up

Definition for beat up (2 of 2)

Origin of beat

before 900; Middle English beten, Old English bēatan; cognate with Old Norse bauta, Middle Low German bōten, Old High German bōzzan; akin to MIr búalaim I hit, Latin fūstis a stick < *bheud-

synonym study for beat

1. Beat, hit, pound, strike, thrash refer to the giving of a blow or blows. Beat implies the giving of repeated blows: to beat a rug. To hit is usually to give a single blow, definitely directed: to hit a ball. To pound is to give heavy and repeated blows, often with the fist: to pound a nail, the table. To strike is to give one or more forceful blows suddenly or swiftly: to strike a gong. To thrash implies inflicting repeated blows as punishment, to show superior strength, and the like: to thrash a child. 22. See pulsate.

OTHER WORDS FROM beat

beat·a·ble, adjective o·ver·beat, verb, o·ver·beat, o·ver·beat·en or o·ver·beat, o·ver·beat·ing. un·der·beat, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH beat

beat beet

British Dictionary definitions for beat up (1 of 2)

beat up
/ informal /

verb

(tr, adverb) to strike or kick (a person), usually repeatedly, so as to inflict severe physical damage
beat oneself up informal to reproach oneself

adjective beat-up

worn-out; dilapidated

British Dictionary definitions for beat up (2 of 2)

beat
/ (biːt) /

verb beats, beating, beat, beaten or beat

noun

adjective

(postpositive) slang totally exhausted
See also beat down, beat up

Derived forms of beat

beatable, adjective

Word Origin for beat

Old English bēatan; related to Old Norse bauta, Old High German bōzan

Medical definitions for beat up

beat
[ bēt ]

v.

To strike repeatedly.
To pulsate; throb.

n.

A stroke, impulse, or pulsation, especially one that produces a sound as of the heart or pulse.

Scientific definitions for beat up

beat
[ bēt ]

A fluctuation or pulsation, usually repeated, in the amplitude of a signal. Beats are generally produced by the superposition of two waves of different frequencies; if the signals are audible, this results in fluctuations between louder and quieter sound.

Idioms and Phrases with beat up (1 of 2)

beat up

1

Strike repeatedly, as in She told the police her husband had beaten her up. [Slang; first half of 1900s]

2

Also, beat up on. Attack verbally, as in That newspaper article really beat up on the town council. [Slang; late 1900s]

Idioms and Phrases with beat up (2 of 2)

beat