What is beat?

Beat can refer to several different meanings, but most commonly refers to:

1. A regular, repeating pulse or rhythm in music, such as the underlying beat of a song that is typically felt as a constant metronomic unit, providing the framework for melody and harmony.

2. In poetry, beat refers to the rhythm of a line or verse, typically a pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that creates a particular sound or cadence.

3. Beat can also refer to a musical genre that emerged in the 1950s and 60s, characterized by its rejection of mainstream culture and emphasis on improvisation and experimentation in literature, music, and art.

4. In terms of media, beat can refer to a specific area or topic that a journalist is assigned to cover as part of their job, such as a crime beat or a sports beat.