English

Noun

heartbeat ‎(plural heartbeats)

1. One pulsation of the heart; especially an irregular one, hence the emotion which causes it.

   The policeman waited for a heartbeat in vain

   He alone gives me such heartbeats

2. The rhythm at which a heart pulsates, a cardiac indicator

   If your heartbeat doesn't normalize soon, consult a doctor!

3. A driving impulse or vital force.

   Music is the heartbeat of the people.

4. A very short space of time; an instant.

   The ambulance arrived in a heartbeat.

5. (computing) A periodic signal generated by hardware or software to indicate normal operation or to synchronize other parts of a system.

Synonyms

• (rhythm at which a heart pulsates): pulse

Derived terms

• in a heartbeat

Translations