beaters

IPA/ˈbiː.tər/
KK[bˈitɚz]IPA/ˈbiː.t̬ɚ/

beaters — noun

  • beaterssingular
  • beatersesplural

1. A hand-held or electric kitchen tool with rotating blades or wires, designed for

1.nounB1
Definition

A hand-held or electric kitchen tool with rotating blades or wires, designed for mixing soft foods like eggs or cream. The same word can also describe a carpet or rug tool for knocking dust out.

Example

Reema used an electric egg beater to whip the cream for the birthday cake.

compound noun: egg beater

Luca took the carpet beater to the garden and beat the dust out of the rug.

compound noun: carpet beater

Common collocations
  • egg beater
  • carpet beater
  • hand-held beater
  • electric beater
  • rotary beater
  • stand mixer beaters
Synonyms
  • whisk

    smaller hand-held wire tool for mixing; lighter than a beater

  • mixer

    usually an electric appliance that includes beaters as attachments

  • blender

    a machine with rotating blades for liquids or soft foods; stronger motor than a simple beater

Grammar Patterns

beater for [purpose]

[material] beater

[compound] beater

Usage Note

Often appears as part of a compound noun (egg beater, carpet beater, rotary beater) where the first word tells you what the tool is used for.

Common Mistakes

He hit the nail with a beater.
He struck the nail with a hammer.
A beater is a kitchen or cleaning utensil, not a tool for pounding nails.

2. Someone who uses physical force against another person on a regular basis, parti

2.nounB2
Definition

Someone who uses physical force against another person on a regular basis, particularly a family member or partner. This word almost always appears as the second half of a compound.

Example

The court sentenced the abusive husband for being a wife-beater.

compound: wife-beater

Hiro was arrested after neighbours reported him as a child-beater.

compound: child-beater

Common collocations
  • wife-beater
  • child-beater
  • known beater
  • admitted beater
Synonyms
  • abuser

    broader term covering physical and emotional harm; more formal

  • batterer

    formal/legal term specifically for someone who repeatedly hits a partner

Grammar Patterns

[noun] + beater (person who beats that category)

Usage Note

Highly accusatory and informal. In legal or formal contexts, words like domestic abuser or batterer are preferred. Almost never used as a standalone noun without the first part of the compound.

Common Mistakes

He is a beater.' (without context)
He is a wife-beater.
The standalone form is rare and unclear; the compound specifies who is being beaten.

3. A person employed by hunters to walk through bushes or forest making noise in or

3.nounB2
Definition

A person employed by hunters to walk through bushes or forest making noise in order to force birds or wild animals to come out of hiding so they can be shot.

Example

Darius worked as a beater during the pheasant hunting season.

pattern: work as a beater

The beaters walked through the forest with sticks to drive the birds toward the hunters.

Common collocations
  • game beater
  • hired beater
  • line of beaters
  • beater-in-charge
Synonyms
  • driver

    general term for someone who forces animals to move; broader and less specific to hunting

  • flusher

    a person who forces birds to take flight; more specific to bird hunting

Grammar Patterns

beater + for [game animal]

work as a beater

Usage Note

Primarily British English and used in the context of traditional game hunting, especially for pheasants, grouse, and partridges. A group of beaters is often led by a beater-in-charge or gamekeeper.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four of these words describe tools for combining foods, but they differ in shape, power, and use. A beater (or eggbeater) typically has two rotating wire loops and works best for eggs, cream, and light batters. A whisk is a hand-held wire tool that requires manual effort and works well for small quantities. A mixer is an electric appliance with detachable beaters, suitable for heavier tasks like cake batter or mashed potatoes. A blender has sharp rotating blades inside a tall container and is designed for liquids or semi-liquids — think smoothies, soups, or purees. For example, you would use a beater to whip cream for a dessert, a whisk to mix a vinaigrette dressing, a stand mixer to make cookie dough, and a blender to prepare a fruit smoothie.

whisk ↗mixerblender ↗eggbeater ↗

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'beater' comes from the Old English word 'bēatan' (to strike) plus the suffix '-er' which means 'a person or thing that does something'. People first used 'beater' in the 1300s to describe a person who hits. By the 1800s, the word was also used for kitchen tools like the rotary egg beater, which was invented in the United States. The hunting sense — a person who drives game out of cover — also dates back several centuries.

First known use

14th century

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1