downbeat
Also found in: Thesaurus, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Related to downbeat: downbeat nystagmus
down·beat
(doun′bēt′)n. Music
1. The first beat of a measure.
2. The downward stroke made by a conductor to indicate the first beat of a measure.
adj.
Cheerless; pessimistic.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
downbeat
(ˈdaʊnˌbiːt)n
(Music, other) music the first beat of a bar or the downward gesture of a conductor's baton indicating this. Compare upbeat
adj
1. (Psychology) informal depressed; gloomy
2. informal relaxed; unemphatic
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
down•beat
(ˈdaʊnˌbit)n.
1. the downward stroke of a conductor's arm or baton indicating the first or accented beat of a measure.
2. the first beat of a measure.
adj. 3. Slang. gloomy; pessimistic.
[1876]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Noun | 1. | downbeat - the first beat of a musical measure (as the conductor's arm moves downward) musical rhythm, rhythm, beat - the basic rhythmic unit in a piece of music; "the piece has a fast rhythm"; "the conductor set the beat" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
downbeat
Informaladjective
2. gloomy, negative, depressed, pessimistic, unfavourable They found him in gloomy, downbeat mood.
gloomy encouraging, positive, optimistic, cheerful, favourable, upbeat, buoyant, heartening
gloomy encouraging, positive, optimistic, cheerful, favourable, upbeat, buoyant, heartening
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Translations
downbeat
[ˈdaʊnˌbiːt]Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
downbeat
[ˈdaʊnbiːt] adj (= pessimistic) [person] → pessimiste, négatif/ive; [assessment] → pessimiste
to be downbeat about sth → être pessimiste à propos de qch
to be downbeat about sth → être pessimiste à propos de qch
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
downbeat
[ˈdaʊnˌbiːt]2. adj (fam) (gloomy) → pessimistico/a; (relaxed) → distaccato/a
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995