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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

downbeat en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

  • /ˈdaʊnbiːt/
  • (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From down + beat.

Meanings

  1. The accented beat at the beginning of a bar (indicated by a conductor with a downward stroke).

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
downbeats Number=Plur lexicographic

Relateds

offbeat · afterbeat · backbeat

Translations (7)

fi alaslyönti (accented beat) · eo ĉefpulso (accented beat) · ja 表拍 (accented beat) · el θέση (accented beat) · cy curiad i lawr (accented beat) · fr temps fort (accented beat) · pl akcentowana miara taktu (accented beat)

downbeat en · ADJ · etymology 2

Pronunciation

  • /daʊnˈbiːt/
  • (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

Earlier downbeaten, from the phrasal verb beat down

Meanings

  1. Sad or pessimistic.
    • He sounded downbeat when asked about his future plans.
  2. Cautiously optimistic.
    • She carried herself with a quiet downbeat grace.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
more downbeat Degree=Cmp lexicographic
most downbeat Degree=Sup lexicographic

Antonyms

upbeat

Translations (11)

nl droef (sad) · tr kötümser (sad) · fi pessimistinen (sad) · nl pessimistisch (sad) · tr karamsar (sad) · fi synkkä (sad) · fr pessimiste (sad) · bg песимистичен (sad) · de pessimistisch (sad) · fr triste (sad) · bg мрачен (sad)