Beat

[acdcfan]

I was looking up the definitions of 'beat' and found many, but none of them akin to 'pause'. So can a beat be defined as a pause as well? For example in "After a beat he answered," or is this just a wrong usage, contorted from "To not miss beat"?

I hope someone can help me out. :)

[Anglika]

I really think more context is needed to answer you. Your example looks as if it is missing a word - "After a heart-beat, he answered", or is a typo or mis-transcription - "After a bit he answered"

[acdcfan]

Ok, so maybe this is a better context:

Her head snaps up and, after a beat, laughs. It didn't last long. She snaps and accuses me of trying to change the subject.

(from 2006 June « The Bound & Gags Wonder Blog)

I hope this helps.

[Andrew Whitehead]

Ok, so maybe this is a better context:

Her head snaps up and, after a beat, laughs. It didn't last long. She snaps and accuses me of trying to change the subject.

(from 2006 June « The Bound & Gags Wonder Blog)

I hope this helps.

It looks as though the 'beat' is a heart-beat, though it could be referring to a single beat in some imaginary music, in effect comparing life to a song and after one beat of the song she laughs.