bear-skin /'beaskin; NAmE 'bers-/ noun 1 the skin and fur of a bear : a bearskin rug 2 a tall hat

of black fur worn for special ceremonies by some British soldiers flg&ftlg;

beast /bi:st/ noun 1 (old-fashioned or formal) an animal, especially one that is large or dangerous, or one that is unusual ( H: wild/

savage/ferocious beasts if#; \ if) $1 O

mythical beasts such as unicorns and dragons

2 a person who is cruel and whose behaviour is uncontrolled ft fi? ESI W A; TT A ffl A PTT71 animal 3 (informal, often humorous) an unpleasant person or thing TTKfHj A ( ) : The maths exam

was a real beast. 4 (informal) a

thing of a particular kind ( ) Ajlf BE] animal:

His new guitar is a very expensive beast,

ffFAo

beast-ly /'biistli/ adj. (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) unpleasant Ig A 6T; iT A 6A 4-A.A^W B3S horrible, nasty ► beast-li-ness noun [U]

SYNONYMS

beat

batter ♦ pound ♦ pummel ♦ lash . hammer

All these words mean to hit sb/sth many times, especially hard. U1±#M#j3'5.JC|£1TAA, Ala®

beat to hit sb/sth a lot of times, especially very hard tfa&MMff ] Someone was beating at the

door. fTAfEfT n <, o A young man was found beaten to death last night. A^iSl

ftT o o At that time, children were often beaten for quite minor offences (= as a punishment).

batter to hit sb/sth hard a lot of times, especially in a way that causes serious damage 1b '/yMhi.4, A 1b® TTSStffisSciaJ^S^±f^;: He had been badly battered around the head and face, ftfefeff % # „ o

Severe winds have been battering the coast. —11

pound to hit sb/sth hard a lot of times, especially in a way that makes a lot of noise Ala AA

M llitiA: Heavy rain pounded on the roof. JIM

pummel to hit sb/sth a lot of times, especially with your fists (= tightly closed hands) IggSPU, 1S1T lash to hit sb/sth with a lot of force jffMfl?, HIT:

The rain lashed at the window. M;.%(k^ifeTT f¹ ±₀ C2EB3 The subject of lash is often rain, wind, hail, sea or waves. * lash rain, wind,

hail, sea waves₀

hammer to hit sb/sth hard a lot of times, in a way that is noisy or violent Uf A^, Si

^MlT: He hammered the door with his fists.

Jo

POUND OR HAMMER? pound hammer?

There is not much difference in meaning between these two, but to pound is sometimes a steadier action. To hammer can be more violent and it is often used figuratively. iiMA^:^JAA, TS pound # hammer mUL

fcbRifo

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

■ to beat/batter/pound/pummel/lash/hammer sb/ sth with sth

■ to beat/batter/pound/lash/hammer against sth a to beat/batter/pound/hammer on sth

■ to beat/batter/hammer sth down

■■to beat/batter sb about/arourrd the head

the rain/wind/hail/sea beats/batters/pounds/ lashes (at) sth