Meaning of beam in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Verb
    1. Definitions
  3. Noun
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /bim/

    US accent Play button

    UK accent Play button

  1. Verb

    beam

    Definitions

    1. smile radiantly

    Examples

    • « express joy through one's facial expression »
  2. 2. emit light

    Examples

    • « be bright, as of the sun or a light »
    • « The sun shone bright that day »
    • « The fire beamed on their faces »

    Derived terms

  3. 3. express with a beaming face or smile

    Examples

    • « he beamed his approval »
  4. 4. broadcast over the airwaves, as in radio or television

    Examples

    • « We cannot air this X-rated song »

    Derived terms

  5. 5. especially of the complexion: show a strong bright color, such as red or pink

    Examples

    • « Her face glowed when she came out of the sauna »

    Derived terms

  6. 6. experience a feeling of well-being or happiness, as from good health or an intense emotion

    Examples

    • « She was beaming with joy »
    • « Her face radiated with happiness »

    Derived terms

  7. Noun

    beam

    Etymology

    Old English bēam ‘tree, beam’, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch boom and German Baum

    Definitions

    1. a signal transmitted along a narrow path

    Examples

    • « guides pilots in darkness or bad weather »

    Derived terms

  8. 2. long thick piece of wood or metal or concrete, etc., used in construction
  9. 3. a column of light (as from a beacon)

    Derived terms

  10. 4. a group of nearly parallel lines of electromagnetic radiation

    Derived terms

  11. 5. (nautical) breadth amidships
  12. 6. a gymnastic apparatus used by women gymnasts

Famous quotes

  • « Be thou the rainbow in the storms of life. The evening beam that smiles the clouds away, and tints tomorrow with prophetic ray. »
    Lord Byron
  • « We can in fact first place the beam of rays of moving positive atomic ions in a plane perpendicular to the axis in which we see the spectral lines emitted by them. »
    Johannes Stark
  • « I've always been a big fan of time travel, and I'm very into the notion that some day we'll be able to do it. Beam me up! »
    Scott Bakula
  • « I had a constant fear, a constant little doubt in my mind: 'OK, I'm getting ready to do my standing back full on beam and I might re-tear my ACL.' »
    Shawn Johnson
  • « Happiness is being on the beam with life - to feel the pull of life. »
    Agnes Martin

Browse dictionary