beating

Etymology

noun

1. The action by which someone or something is beaten.
   the beating of a drum
   secret beatings of prisoners
   The fight is not all one-sided. Lion is taking a savage beating as the two flagships trade body blows almost independent of the furious carronade going on behind them. 17 October 2018, Drachinifel, 14:13 from the start, in Last Ride of the High Seas Fleet - Battle of Texel 1918, archived from the original on 2022-08-04
2. A heavy defeat or setback.
   To increase United's pain, this was their first home defeat in any competition since April 2010, when they lost to Chelsea - but even that defeat, which effectively cost them the title, may not turn out to have the same long-term significance as this heavy beating. October 23, 2011, Phil McNulty, “Man Utd 1 - 6 Man City”, in BBC Sport
3. The pulsation of the heart.

verb

1. present participle and gerund of beat