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beam
[beem]
noun
any of various relatively long pieces of metal, wood, stone, etc., manufactured or shaped especially for use as rigid members or parts of structures or machines.
Building Trades.a horizontal bearing member, as a joist or lintel.
Engineering.a rigid member or structure supported at each end, subject to bending stresses from a direction perpendicular to its length.
Nautical.
a horizontal structural member, usually transverse, for supporting the decks and flats of a vessel.
the extreme width of a vessel.
the shank of an anchor.
Aeronautics.the direction perpendicular to the plane of symmetry of an aircraft and outward from the side.
the widest part.
Slang.the measure across both hips or buttocks.
broad in the beam.
Machinery.
(in a loom) a roller or cylinder on which the warp is wound before weaving.
a similar cylinder on which cloth is wound as it is woven.
the crossbar of a balance, from the ends of which the scales or pans are suspended.
a ray of light.
The sun shed its beams upon the vineyard.
a group of nearly parallel rays.
Radio, Aeronautics.a signal transmitted along a narrow course, used to guide pilots through darkness, bad weather, etc.
Electronics.a narrow stream of electrons, as that emitted from the electron gun of a cathode ray tube.
the angle at which a microphone or loudspeaker functions best.
the cone-shaped range of effective use of a microphone or loudspeaker.
Citizens Band Radio Slang.beam antenna.
a gleam; suggestion.
a beam of hope.
a radiant smile.
the principal stem of the antler of a deer.
verb (used with object)
to emit in or as in beams or rays.
Radio.to transmit (a signal) in a particular direction.
Radio and Television.to direct (a program, commercial message, etc.) to a predetermined audience.
verb (used without object)
to emit beams, as of light.
to smile radiantly or happily.
beam
/ ː /
noun
a long thick straight-sided piece of wood, metal, concrete, etc, esp one used as a horizontal structural member
any rigid member or structure that is loaded transversely
the breadth of a ship or boat taken at its widest part, usually amidships
a ray or column of light, as from a beacon
a broad smile
one of the two cylindrical rollers on a loom, one of which holds the warp threads before weaving, the other the finished work
the main stem of a deer's antler from which the smaller branches grow
the central shaft of a plough to which all the main parts are attached
a narrow unidirectional flow of electromagnetic radiation or particles
a beam of light
an electron beam
the horizontal centrally pivoted bar in a balance
informalthe width of the hips (esp in the phrase broad in the beam )
a fault or grave error greater in oneself than in another person
not following a radio beam to maintain a course
informalwrong, mistaken, or irrelevant
following a radio beam to maintain a course
nautical opposite the beam of a vessel; abeam
informalcorrect, relevant, or appropriate
verb
to send out or radiate (rays of light)
(tr) to divert or aim (a radio signal or broadcast, light, etc) in a certain direction
to beam a programme to Tokyo
to pass (data, esp business card details, etc) from one hand-held computer to another by means of infrared beams
(intr) to smile broadly with pleasure or satisfaction
Other 51Թ Forms
- beamless adjective
- beamlike adjective
- outbeam verb (used with object)
- unbeamed adjective
- underbeam noun
- ˈˌ adjective
- beamed adjective
- ˈԲ adjective
- ˈ adjective
- ˈ adjective
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of beam1
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of beam1
Idioms and Phrases
fly the beam, (of an aircraft) to be guided by a beam.
off the beam,
not on the course indicated by a radio beam.
Informal. wrong; incorrect.
The pollsters were off the beam again for the last presidential election.
beam in, to be received under optimum conditions; be heard loud and clear.
They told me I was really beaming in.
on the beam,
on the course indicated by a radio beam, as an airplane.
Nautical. at right angles to the keel.
Informal. proceeding well; correct; exact.
Their research is right on the beam and the results should be very valuable.
Example Sentences
With a beaming smile in the aftermath of this victory at Lord's, the joy on Bavuma's face was clear.
The soon-to-be Maywood Academy High School graduates processed, beaming, into an auditorium at East Los Angeles College to a recording of Pomp and Circumstance.
A high beam from a helicopter shone down on the crowd.
But it was an impressive response from the Briton, who beamed after slamming down a forehand winner to seal victory.
Billy Quigley tells the BBC he has "no idea" the steel beams at the end of the Peace bridge were intended to be a work of art.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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