beat (1) VERB
If someone or something beats someone or something else, they hit them hard and repeatedly.
batter
The burglar had battered down the door.
flog
In Nelson’s day, sailors who stole would be flogged with a whip called a cat-o’-nine-tails.
pound
Waves pounded the shore as the wind rose to screaming pitch.
thrash
The bully threatened, “Tom Brown, I shall thrash the living daylights out of you.”
beat (2) VERB
If you beat someone in a race or game, you defeat them or do better than them.
conquer
William, Duke of Normandy, conquered England in 1066.
lick INFORMAL
Abdel really licked me in the 100 metres sprint race.
run rings round INFORMAL
Our speedy attackers ran rings round their lumbering defenders.
thrash INFORMAL
“It’s a safe bet that we’ll get thrashed when we play you,” said Tim.
wipe the floor with INFORMAL
Our school team wiped the floor with kids much bigger than they were.
beautiful ADJECTIVE
You say someone or something is beautiful if they are very pleasing to look at.
attractive
People say my sister is attractive.
gorgeous
I overheard Dad telling Mum she looked gorgeous.
lovely
The photograph, I had to admit, even made my aunt look lovely.
pretty
Even some garden weeds can look pretty at certain times.
stunning INFORMAL
The sunset over the mountains was nothing less than stunning.
ANTONYMS: ugly or unattractive
beauty (1) NOUN
If a person has beauty, they have the quality of being beautiful.
elegance
Every movement the duchess made had an elegance about it.
good looks
The actor possessed rugged good looks.
loveliness
The opera singer’s loveliness was not matched by her selfish behaviour.
beauty (2) NOUN
If a place has beauty, it has the quality of being beautiful.
charm
This country cottage has tremendous charm and character.
loveliness
I think the loveliness of Athens is somewhat spoilt by the pollution.
splendour