n. 1. The act of striking or giving blows; punishment or chastisement by blows. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. Pulsation; throbbing; as, the beating of the heart. [ 1913 Webster ]
3. (Acoustics & Mus.) Pulsative sounds. See Beat, n. [ 1913 Webster ]
4. (Naut.) The process of sailing against the wind by tacks in zigzag direction. [ 1913 Webster ]