# beam

Pronunciation: say "BEEM" /biːm/

## Noun

1. A ray or narrow stream of light, other radiation, or particles sent out from a source; also, figuratively, a gleam of something such as hope or humor.
   - Simple: A line of light or energy that shines out from something, or a small sign of hope or joy.
   - _A single beam of sunlight broke through the clouds over the valley._
   - _Lighthouse beams swept the coastline every few seconds through the fog._
2. A long, strong piece of timber, steel or concrete, especially one of the main horizontal supports of a building or structure.
   - Simple: A long, heavy bar of wood, metal or concrete, often used to hold up a roof or floor.
   - _The contractor replaced a cracked beam before finishing the renovation._
   - _Exposed ceiling beams give the converted loft an industrial look._
5. In gymnastics, the narrow raised bar on which gymnasts perform, or the event performed on it; short for balance beam. — Ellipsis of balance beam.
   - Simple: In gymnastics, a narrow raised bar that gymnasts balance on, or the event using it. Short for balance beam.
   - _Her routine on beam earned the highest score of the night._
   - _Despite falling on her first leap, she climbed straight back onto the beam and finished her routine with confidence._
7. The maximum width of a ship or boat, measured at its widest point.
   - Simple: How wide a boat or ship is at its widest point.
   - _With a beam of nearly forty feet, the yacht barely fit in the slip._
   - _Cargo ships built for the canal are limited in beam by the width of its locks._
10. A broad smile spreading across the face.
   - Simple: A big, wide smile that shows someone is very happy.
   - _His face broke into a beam as the bride walked in._
   - _The coach's usual frown gave way to a broad beam as the final whistle blew._
11. The direction across a vessel, at right angles to its fore-and-aft line.
   - Simple: The direction straight across a boat, from one side to the other.
   - _Heavy swells rolling in on the beam made the crossing uncomfortable._
   - _The captain spotted the buoy just off the starboard beam._
12. The horizontal crossbar of a mechanical balance, from whose ends the weighing pans are suspended.
   - Simple: The bar across the top of a weighing scale that the two pans hang from.
   - _The pharmacist added small weights until the beam swung level._
   - _Dust on the beam can throw off a sensitive balance's readings._
13. One of the transverse members of a ship's frame on which the decks are laid, also helping hold the sides of the hull in shape.
   - Simple: A strong bar that runs across a ship and holds up the deck.
   - _In dry dock, the shipwrights replaced a cracked beam under the schooner's main deck._
   - _The deck beams of the schooner were notched into the frames along each side._
14. A horizontal bar connecting the stems of two or more notes to group them and show their rhythmic value.
   - Simple: A thick line in printed music that connects two or more short notes.
   - _In the second measure, one beam links the four eighth notes so the player can see the beat at a glance._
   - _Beams in older vocal scores often follow the syllables of the text rather than the beat._
16. The principal stem of a deer's antler, from which the individual tines branch.
   - Simple: The thick main part of a deer's antler that the smaller points grow from.
   - _The old stag carried antlers with a beam as thick as a man's wrist._
   - _Each beam swept back and then curved forward over the deer's ears._

## Verb

3. To smile broadly or with particular cheerfulness.
   - Simple: To smile in a very big and happy way.
   - _The new parents beamed at everyone who stopped by the hospital room._
   - _Graduates beam as they cross the stage to collect their diplomas._
4. Of the sun, a lamp, or another light source, to send out rays and shine.
   - Simple: To send out light, or to shine brightly.
   - _Headlights beam through the fog on the mountain road._
   - _The full moon beamed over the quiet harbor all night._
6. In science fiction, to transport people or objects instantly from one place to another by means of an energy beam.
   - Simple: In science fiction, to send people or things from one place to another in an instant, using a beam.
   - _The mothership hovered overhead, ready to beam entire vehicles aboard._
   - _In the show, the crew beams an injured officer directly to sickbay._
8. To send signals, broadcasts, or data without wires, by radio, satellite, or a direct link such as infrared between two devices.
   - Simple: To send pictures, signals, or information through the air, by radio, satellite, or from one device to another.
   - _Early handheld organizers could beam contact cards to each other over an infrared link._
   - _The payment terminal beams a receipt straight to the customer's phone._
9. To fit a ceiling, building or other structure with beams, whether supporting or decorative.
   - Simple: To put beams into a building, ceiling or wall, to hold it up or for looks.
   - _The farmhouse kitchen is beamed with dark, hand-cut timbers more than two hundred years old._
   - _The architect had the new extension beamed with reclaimed oak to match the older part of the house._
15. To connect musical notes with a beam, a thick horizontal line, in written music notation.
   - Simple: To join written music notes together with a thick line.
   - _Composers usually beam eighth notes in groups that match the beat._
   - _The engraving software beams notes automatically according to the time signature._

## Other meanings

- (noun) In a steam engine, a heavy lever that rocks on a central pivot, passing the piston's motion at one end to a pump rod or, in later engines, to a crank that turns a shaft.
- (noun) A wooden cylinder on a loom that holds the warp threads before weaving or rolls up the cloth as it is woven.
- (verb) To put (something, such as warp yarn or cloth) onto a beam of a loom.
- (noun) The straight part of an anchor; the shank, which runs from the ring at the top down to the arms.
- (noun) The central bar of a plow; the handles and cutting blade attach to it, and the oxen or horses that pull the plow are hitched to its front end.
- (noun) In falconry, any of the long feathers of a hawk's wing.
- (noun) The pole of a carriage or chariot, extending forward between the horses that draw it.
- (noun) A raised, rectangular bank of earth built as an inexpensive way to carry a railway above the surrounding ground.
- (verb) To stretch something, such as an animal hide, over a beam in order to work on it.

## Origin

From Middle English beem, from Old English bēam ('tree, wood, post, rafter'), from Proto-West Germanic *baum and Proto-Germanic *baumaz ('tree, beam'), traditionally traced to Proto-Indo-European *bʰew- ('to grow, swell'). It is cognate with Dutch boom, German Baum, and Yiddish בוים (boym), all meaning 'tree', and is a doublet of boom. The verb is from Old English bēamian ('to shine, to cast forth rays of light'), formed from the noun.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/beam (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).