beating heart

noun

The core of a thing; its most essential or important part.

“beating-heart transplant”

Similar
heart and soul
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Meanings

nounbeating heart (plural beating hearts)

plural beating hearts

  1. figurativelyThe core of a thing; its most essential or important part.

    the beating heart of the economy

    1 more example

    This was an outstanding Manchester City performance, the old quality back on show, but Foden was its beating heart, the peerless Rodri also playing his part.

    2024 April 3, Phil McNulty, “Man City 4-1 Aston Villa: Phil Foden produces 'masterclass' to show worth again”, in BBC

    Synonyms: heart and soul

  2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see beating, heart.

    beating-heart transplant

    1 more example

    be still my beating heart

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe core of a thing; its most essential or important part.

Similar
heart and soul
Also see
demon core

Translations

Finnish sykkivä sydän
  • sykkivä sydän(figurative)
French cœur battant
  • cœur battant(figurative)
Polish serce
  • serce(figurative)
Cite this entry
APA

beating heart. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/beating%20heart

MLA

“beating heart.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/beating%20heart. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “beating heart,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/beating%20heart.

Source: beating heart on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.