Beam of light shining through the trees.
- The definition of beam is a piece of wood, metal or steel which is typically long and squared that can be used as a building material.
An example of a beam is a 24 inch by 24 inch square piece of wood used in the framing of a house.
- Beam is defined as a column of light, or a condensed flowing of particles, waves, or signals.
- An example of a beam is the illumination produced from a lighthouse.
- An example of a beam is the electromagnetic waves generated to broadcast a radio station to the public.
- Beam means to release a column of light, or to release a condensed flowing of particles, waves, or signals of any type.
- An example of beam is to turn on a car’s headlights.
- An example of beam is to operate an x-ray machine whose electromagnetic waves allow it to see through solid objects.
- An example of beam is to send out radio signals from a satellite in order for people to enjoy a variety of music from their vehicle and/or TV.
- Beam is to grin from ear to ear with happiness.
An example of beam is to smile big when graduating from college.
- Obs. the squared-off trunk of a tree
- a long, thick piece of wood, metal, or stone, used in building
- such a piece used as a horizontal support for a roof, ceiling, etc.
Origin of beamorig. transl. of L columna lucis, column of light a shaft or stream of light or other radiation, as of X-rays or nuclear particles: also used fig. a radiant look, smile, etc. a stream of radio or radar signals sent continuously in one direction from a landing field, harbor, etc. as a guide for incoming aircraft or ships
Origin of beamMiddle English ; from OE, a tree, piece of wood, column; akin to German baum, Dutch boom, tree
- to give out (shafts of light); radiate in a beam or beams
- to direct or aim (a radio signal, program, etc.)
- to construct (a ceiling) so that the beams are exposed
- to shine brightly; be radiant
- to smile warmly
beam in one's own eye
Origin of beamafter Matt. 7:3, Luke 6:41
off the beam
- not following the direction of a guiding beam, as an airplane
- ⌂ Informal
- going in the wrong direction
- wrong; incorrect
on the beam
- in a direction at right angles to the keel of a ship; abeam
- following the direction of a guiding beam, as an airplane
- ⌂ Informal
- going in the right direction
- working or functioning well; alert, keen, quick, etc.
- A squared-off log or a large, oblong piece of timber, metal, or stone used especially as a horizontal support in construction.
- Nautical a. A transverse structural member of a ship's frame, used to support a deck and to brace the sides against stress.b. The breadth of a ship at the widest point.c. The side of a ship: sighted land off the starboard beam.
- Informal The widest part of a person's hips: broad in the beam.
- A steel tube or wooden roller on which the warp is wound in a loom.
- An oscillating lever connected to an engine piston rod and used to transmit power to the crankshaft.
- a. The bar of a balance from which weighing pans are suspended.b. Sports A balance beam.
- The main horizontal bar on a plow to which the share, colter, and handles are attached.
- One of the main stems of a deer's antlers.
- a. A ray or shaft of light.b. A concentrated stream of particles or a similar propagation of waves: a beam of protons; a beam of light.
- A radio beam.
verbbeamed, beam·ing, beams
- To radiate light; shine.
- To smile expansively.
- To emit or transmit: beam a message via satellite.
- To express by means of a radiant smile: He beamed his approval of the new idea.
Origin of beamMiddle English bem, from Old English bēam; see bheu&schwa;- in Indo-European roots.
- Any large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to its thickness, and prepared for use.
- One of the principal horizontal timbers of a building; one of the transverse members of a ship's frame on which the decks are laid - supported at the sides by knees in wooden ships and by stringers in steel ones.
- (nautical) The maximum width of a vessel
- This ship has more beam than that one.
- The crossbar of a mechanical balance, from the ends of which the scales are suspended.
- The principal stem of the antler of a deer.
- (literary) The pole of a carriage.
- (textiles) A cylinder of wood, making part of a loom, on which weavers wind the warp before weaving and the cylinder on which the cloth is rolled, as it is woven.
- The straight part or shank of an anchor.
- The central bar of a plow, to which the handles and colter are secured, and to the end of which are attached the oxen or horses that draw it.
- In steam engines, a heavy iron lever having an oscillating motion on a central axis, one end of which is connected with the piston rod from which it receives motion, and the other with the crank of the wheel shaft.
- A ray or collection of approximatelyly parallel rays emitted from the sun or other luminous body
- a beam of light
- a beam of energy
- (figuratively) A ray; a gleam
- a beam of hope, or of comfort
- One of the long feathers in the wing of a hawk.
- (music) A horizontal bar which connects the stems of two or more notes to group them and to indicate metric value.
- An elevated rectangular dirt pile used to cheaply build an elevated portion of a railway.
(third-person singular simple present beams, present participle beaming, simple past and past participle beamed)
- (intransitive) To emit beams of light; shine; radiate.
- to beam forth light
- (intransitive, figuratively) To smile broadly or especially cheerfully.
- To furnish or supply with beams; give the appearance of beams to.
- (science fiction) To transmit matter or information via a high-tech wireless mechanism.
- Beam me up, Scotty; there's no intelligent life down here.
- (currying) To stretch on a beam, as a hide.
- (weaving) To put on a beam, as a chain or web.
- (music) To connect (musical notes) with a beam, or thick line, in music notation.
From Middle English beem, from Old English bēam (“tree, cross, gallows, column, pillar, wood, beam, splint, post, stock, rafter, piece of wood”), from Proto-Germanic *baumaz (“tree, beam, balk”), from Proto-Indo-European *bhū- (“to grow, swell”). Cognate with West Frisian beam (“tree”), Dutch boom (“tree”), German Baum (“tree”), Albanian bimë (“a plant”) and Latin pōmō (“fruit tree”).
The verb is from Middle English bemen, from Old English bēamian (“to shine, to cast forth rays or beams of light”), from the noun.