heartbeat

heart-beat · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A single pulsation of the heart.

  2. 2.

    The rhythmic contraction and expansion of the heart.

  3. 3.

    A very short time; an instant.

  4. 4.

    The central or vital part of something.

Forms

plural: heartbeats

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    in a heartbeat — instantly; without hesitation
  • •
    miss a heartbeat — to be momentarily startled or excited
  • •
    heartbeat away — very close to achieving or becoming something

Related words

See also: beat, heart, pulse, rhythm
Synonyms: pulsation, pulse

Etymology

A compound of heart and beat, first recorded in the early 19th century.