beaten
/'bi:tn/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Worn smooth or bare by repeated treading or use: Describes a surface, especially a path or track, that has become smooth, bare, or clearly defined due to frequent use.
- Shaped or made thin by hammering: Describes metal that has been worked into a desired form or thin sheet through the process of hammering.
- Defeated or overcome: Describes someone or something that has been vanquished in a contest, struggle, or conflict. (This meaning is directly derived from the past participle of the verb 'beat').
Examples of Usage
- Adjective:
- We followed the beaten path through the woods. (We followed the well-worn, frequently used path through the woods.)
- The artisan crafted a beautiful bowl from beaten copper. (The artisan crafted a beautiful bowl from copper that had been shaped by hammering.)
- The beaten army retreated from the field. (The defeated army retreated from the battlefield.)
Advanced Usage
- "the beaten track": A commonly used or conventional path, route, or method. Often used in the negative ("off the beaten track") to describe something unusual, unconventional, or less frequented.
- Tourists rarely visit villages that are off the beaten track.
- "beaten gold/silver": Gold or silver that has been hammered into a thin leaf or foil, often for decorative purposes.
- The ancient manuscript was adorned with beaten gold.
Variants and Related Words
- Beat (verb): To strike repeatedly; to defeat.
- Beater (noun): A person or thing that beats; a device for beating.
- Beating (noun): An act of physical striking; a defeat.
Synonyms
- Worn: Impaired or made thin by wear or friction.
- Hammered: Shaped or worked with a hammer.
- Defeated: Overcome in a battle or other contest.
Related Phrases
- Beaten down: Physically worn out or subdued; (of a price) reduced significantly through negotiation.
- The grass was beaten down by the heavy rain.
- I bought it at a beaten-down price.
- Beaten up: Damaged or worn out from hard use; assaulted physically.
- He was driving a beaten-up old car.
- The victim was badly beaten up.
Related Idioms
- Beaten at the post: Defeated at the very last moment, especially in a race or competition.
- Our team was beaten at the post by a last-second goal.
- Take a beaten path: To follow a conventional or well-established course of action.
- In his research, he preferred to take a beaten path rather than explore radical new theories.
Adjective
- much trodden and worn smooth or bare
- did not stray from the beaten path
- formed or made thin by hammering
- beaten gold