Beat - to repeatedly strike or hit with great force. "The drummer beat his drum." Pat - to hit lightly or softly. "The mother gave her crying child a comforting pat on the back." Slap - to strike or hit with an open hand. "The offended woman slapped the stranger across the face." Flap - to move back and forth rapidly. "A bird's wings flap when it flies."

To beat: to hit with great force, generally using a blunt object To pat: a light tapping with the whole palm of your hand, but it can be extended to searching people (such as giving a pat down). To slap: a "hard" tapping, using your palm, and usually with much energy To flap: something that is loose and moves freely up and down or in the wind, yet touches the surface of something, and this is usually because it is not well attached (like wings--a bird's wings flap).