Crossword Clue: Rhythmic foundation of a song
Here's the answer to the Rhythmic foundation of a song crossword clue, with an explanation and where it has appeared.
Definition & answer: BEAT
BEAT solves the clue "Rhythmic foundation of a song". Spanning 4 letters (2 vowels, 2 consonants), it begins at B and ends at T. Like most crossword fill, it lives at the intersection of two words, so a single confirmed crossing letter frequently reveals the whole entry.
Origin & meaning
A beat is the basic rhythmic unit of music, marking the pulse listeners tap along to. In hip-hop, 'beat' also refers to the instrumental track a rapper performs over.
Common usage
Beat turns up often in crosswords because of that letter mix. Words like BEAT interlock cleanly with longer entries, so constructors reach for them to make a grid fit together without awkward clashes. Given a 4-square slot and a crossing letter or two, it's usually quick to confirm.
Crossword trivia
At 4 letters, BEAT shows up in daily mini and themed puzzles far more than longer, obscure words. It's the kind of entry worth memorizing — the more common short words you know cold, the faster you solve.
Stuck on this clue?
If this clue won't come, leave it and fill the answers that cross it. Once a couple of BEAT's letters are locked by neighboring words, the entry tends to reveal itself. Crossings beat staring at a clue every time.
This clue in different puzzles
Setters vary how they clue BEAT — sometimes with a straight dictionary definition, sometimes with wordplay, a pun, or a fill-in-the-blank — but the answer itself stays the same. Learning to spot the answer behind the disguise is a core crossword skill.
Example sentences
- "I second-guessed it, but the crossing answers confirmed BEAT was right."
- "I had the crossing letters, so writing BEAT into the grid took no time at all."
- "Beat is the kind of answer that clicks the moment you spot one letter."