beats per minute

Meanings

1. 1phraseplural

   a unit for measuring how many times something happens in one minute, especially heartbeats or musical beats.

   Grammar: The phrase itself contains a plural noun ('beats') and is used after a number: '70 beats per minute'.

   Patterns

   • number + beats per minute
   • at ... beats per minute
   • measured in beats per minute

   A resting heart rate for adults is often between 60 and 100 beats per minute.

   The DJ increased the tempo to 128 beats per minute.

   The doctor checked his pulse and recorded 72 beats per minute.

2. 2phraseplural

   a measure of the speed or tempo of a piece of music.

   Grammar: Used in music contexts, often abbreviated as BPM: 'a 90 BPM track'.

   Patterns

   • a tempo of ... beats per minute
   • play at ... beats per minute

   This song is played at about 100 beats per minute.

   The producer set the drum loop to 140 beats per minute.

   Slow ballads are usually under 80 beats per minute.

Common combinations

heart rate in beats per minute

The monitor displays your heart rate in beats per minute.

a tempo of 120 beats per minute

The conductor asked for a tempo of 120 beats per minute.

60 beats per minute

A slow waltz is often around 60 beats per minute.

measure beats per minute

The app can measure beats per minute while you exercise.

Synonyms and how they differ

BPM

This is just the abbreviation of 'beats per minute' and is common in music software and medical notes.

pulse rate

Pulse rate refers specifically to heartbeats, while 'beats per minute' can also describe music.

Commonly confused: beats per minute or beats per second?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “beats per minute”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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