beaten

[ beet-n ]

adjective

1. formed or shaped by blows; hammered:

   a dish of beaten brass.

2. much trodden; commonly used:

   a beaten path.

3. defeated; vanquished; thwarted.
4. overcome by exhaustion; fatigued by hard work, intense activity, etc.
5. (of food) whipped up, pounded, pulverized, or the like:

   adding three beaten eggs.

beaten

/ ˈbiːtən /

adjective

1. defeated or baffled
2. shaped or made thin by hammering

   a bowl of beaten gold

3. much travelled; well trodden (esp in the phrase the beaten track )
4. off the beaten track
   1. in or into unfamiliar territory
   2. out of the ordinary; unusual
5. (of food) mixed by beating; whipped
6. tired out; exhausted
7. hunting (of woods, undergrowth, etc) scoured so as to rouse game

Other Words From

• under·beaten adjective
• well-beaten adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of beaten¹

before 1100; Middle English beten, Old English bēaten, past participle of bēatan to beat

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. off the beaten track / path, novel; uncommon; out of the ordinary:

   a tiny shop that was off the beaten track.

Example Sentences

Captain Jamie George says England have "evolved" from the side beaten by South Africa in the World Cup semi-finals last year.

From BBC

England head coach Borthwick has made four changes from the side beaten by Australia in their last outing, including the reintroduction of full-back Freddie Steward and scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet.

From BBC

The court previously heard that Sara was hooded, burned and beaten during more than two years of abuse before she was found dead at her family home in Woking, Surrey, last year.

From BBC

Mr Sharif agreed that violence to Sara had become "normalised" at times in the house, but he said his brother, Mr Malik - who lived with the family - was unaware of Sara being beaten at home.

From BBC

The 1982 report, prepared by Anglican clergyman Mark Ruston, about the canings said "the scale and severity of the practice was horrific", with accounts of boys beaten so badly they bled, with one describing how he needed to wear nappies until his wounds scabbed over.

From BBC

Related Words

• humbled
• overpowered
• overwhelmed
• routed