1a punishment or assault in which the victim is hit repeatedly:if he got dirt on his clothes he’d get a beating [mass noun]:torture methods included beating
2 [mass noun] pulsation or throbbing, typically of the heart.
3a defeat in a competitive situation.
take a beating
informal suffer damage or hurt:her pride had taken a beating at his hands
take some (or a lot of) beating
informal be difficult to surpass or defeat:last year’s £2.3 million record will take some beating
