heartbeat

[hahrt-beet]

noun

Physiology.

1. a pulsation of the heart, including one complete systole and diastole.

heartbeat

/ ˈhɑːtˌbiːt /

noun

1. one complete pulsation of the heart See diastole systole

Word History and Origins

Origin of heartbeat¹

First recorded in 1840–50; heart + beat

Example Sentences

And on the day of her next scan, the room fell silent as her other twin also had no heartbeat - and had died the day before.

Read more on BBC

His British-Israeli mother, Ditza, has said she just wants to put her ear to his chest and hear his heartbeat again.

Read more on BBC

This includes not telling anyone everything, as the movie’s heartbeat races.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Or what it feels like to ride the slow heaving of the ocean, pulsing like the heartbeat of the world.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Because the fetus still had a heartbeat, she was denied abortion care under South Carolina’s existing ban.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• pulse