transferred. Of the heart: To beat excitedly. Obsolete.

intransitive. Of the heart: to beat rapidly; to throb; to palpitate.

intransitive. spec. Of a person's heart or heartbeat, the blood, etc.: to beat hard or quickly with anxiety, excitement, fear, etc.; to throb.

intransitive. Of the heart: to beat rapidly, strongly, or irregularly, as the result of exercise, strong emotion, disease, etc. Also…

To move rapidly. intransitive. Originally U.S. Of the heart or pulse: to beat more rapidly than usual, often because of fear or excitement.