beaten

1. 1
   adjective

   Struck again and again, or shaped and flattened by repeated blows.

   Like a coin, pressed and shaped under repeated strikes of a die.

   The artisan hammered out a serving tray of beaten brass.

   The trail crossed a stretch of beaten ground packed firm by centuries of feet.

   Similarhammered, wrought, trodden, packed

   Note

   Three very different things share this adjective: a path flattened by the passage of feet, gold worked under the hammer, and people who have been struck. What joins them is the repeated blow. With ground and metal, beaten names the shape the blows produced; with people, it names the harm done. Since a beaten man can also simply be a defeated one, context has to separate this sense from the "defeated" meaning.

2. 2
   adjective

   Having been defeated in a contest, struggle, or fight.

   The beaten army retreated across the river at nightfall.

   He looked tired and beaten after the long campaign.

   Similardefeated, vanquished, routed

   Oppositevictorious, triumphant, unbeaten

3. 3
   verb

   Past participle of beat.

   The champion had beaten every challenger before retiring.

   Their score has been beaten only once in a decade.

   Note

   The verb behind all the adjectives is irregular: the simple past is beat, but perfect and passive constructions take beaten (she beat him; she has beaten him; he was beaten). The participle carries the verb's full range, from striking and throbbing to defeating a rival, and even the sailor's sense of tacking against the wind: the ship had beaten to windward.

4. 4
   adjective

   Stirred and mixed vigorously with a wooden spoon, whisk, or similar tool.

   Fold the beaten egg whites gently into the flour mixture.

   She brushed the pastry with a little beaten egg before baking.

   Similarwhipped

   Note

   A recipe word, used of eggs, cream and other liquids worked hard with a spoon, whisk or paddle. Beating is rapid agitation: it draws air into the mixture and brings it to a smooth, even consistency, which is what sets it apart from simply stirring or folding. In recipes it usually stands before the noun, as in two beaten eggs or a little beaten egg white.

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