What does "heartbeat" mean?

One pulsation of the heart; especially an irregular one, hence the emotion which causes it.

What is a synonym for "heartbeat"?

Common synonyms include: pulse, pulse, anima, animating force, arrhythmia, atman.

//ˈhɑɹtˌbit// noun

noun ·Moderate ·High school level

Noun

1
One pulsation of the heart; especially an irregular one, hence the emotion which causes it.
"The policeman waited for a heartbeat in vain."
2
an animating or vital unifying force wordnet
3
The rhythm at which a heart pulsates, a cardiac indicator.
"If your heartbeat doesn't normalize soon, consult a doctor!"
4
the rhythmic contraction and expansion of the arteries with each beat of the heart wordnet
5
A driving impulse or vital force; the vital center of something.
"Music is the heartbeat of the people."

Show 3 more definitions

6
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat) wordnet
7
A very short space of time; an instant.
"The ambulance arrived in a heartbeat."
8
A periodic signal generated by hardware or software to indicate normal operation or to synchronize other parts of a system.