heartbeat

== English == === Etymology === From heart +‎ beat. === Pronunciation === (UK) IPA(key): /ˈhɑːtˌbiːt/ (US) IPA(key): /ˈhɑɹtˌbit/, [ˈhɑɹʔbiʔ] === Noun === heartbeat (plural heartbeats) One pulsation of the heart; especially an irregular one, hence the emotion which causes it. The rhythm at which a heart pulsates, a cardiac indicator. Synonym: pulse A driving impulse or vital force; the vital center of something. A very short space of time; an instant. (computing) A periodic signal generated by hardware or software to indicate normal operation or to synchronize other parts of a system. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ====