1. (

• pulse ,
• pulsation ,
• heartbeat ,
• beat

) the rhythmic contraction and expansion of the arteries with each beat of the heart; "he could feel the beat of her heart" ;

2. (

• blink_of_an_eye ,
• flash ,
• heartbeat ,
• instant ,
• jiffy ,
• split_second ,
• trice ,
• twinkling ,
• wink ,
• New_York_minute

) a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat); "if I had the chance I'd do it in a flash" ;

3. (

• heartbeat

) an animating or vital unifying force; "New York is the commercial heartbeat of America" ;