noun
Uncommon
heartbeat
HAHT-beet
Heartbeat (noun) means a single pulse of the heart, or the steady rhythm of the heart pumping. Example: “The nurse checked the baby's heartbeat with a small handheld monitor.”
noun
1
A single pulse of the heart, or the steady rhythm of the heart pumping.
"The nurse checked the baby's heartbeat with a small handheld monitor."
"You could hear his heartbeat quicken as he waited for the results."
"After the long run, she rested and felt her heartbeat slowly settle down."
2
A very brief moment in time.
"In a heartbeat, the whole plan fell apart."
"The kitten was gone in a heartbeat when it heard the vacuum cleaner."
"I would say yes in a heartbeat if they offered me that job."
3
A repeating signal sent by a computer system to show it is still running properly.
"The server sends a heartbeat every ten seconds so the monitoring tool knows it hasn't crashed."
"If the heartbeat stops arriving, the system automatically sends an alert to the engineers."
"Each node in the cluster emits a heartbeat so the others know it is still online."
How to use heartbeat
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe pulse of the heart — or, by extension, a regular signal that shows something is still alive and working.
Common pairings
a steady heartbeat
in a heartbeat
heartbeat monitor
heartbeat signal
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Word forms
- Plural
- heartbeats
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The nurse checked the baby's _____ with a small handheld monitor.
Etymology
A straightforward compound of "heart" and "beat" — used literally for centuries before being borrowed by computing for its "signal of life" idea.
Related words
Rhymes for heartbeat
See all rhymes for heartbeat →Frequently asked questions
What does “heartbeat” mean?
The word “heartbeat” means a single pulse of the heart, or the steady rhythm of the heart pumping. In plain terms, the pulse of the heart — or, by extension, a regular signal that shows something is still alive and working.
How do you pronounce “heartbeat”?
“Heartbeat” is pronounced HAHT-beet (/ˈhɑɹtˌbit/ in IPA).
How do you use “heartbeat” in a sentence?
Here is “heartbeat” used in a sentence: “The nurse checked the baby's heartbeat with a small handheld monitor.”
What part of speech is “heartbeat”?
“Heartbeat” is a noun.
Is “heartbeat” a common word?
“Heartbeat” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “heartbeat” have?
“Heartbeat” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a single pulse of the heart, or the steady rhythm of the heart pumping.
What is a heartbeat signal in computing?
In computing, a heartbeat is a repeating signal a system sends at regular intervals to show it is still running and functioning properly. If the heartbeat stops arriving, other systems can detect that the machine or process has failed.
Is heartbeat only about the physical pulse of the heart?
No, heartbeat also extends figuratively to mean a very brief moment in time and, in technology, a status signal confirming a system is active. Its meanings all share the idea of a steady, repeating pulse.
