Definition Definition

Bead - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'Bead' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Bead [ n.]
- A prayer.
- A little perforated ball, to be strung on a thread, and worn for ornament; or used in a rosary for counting prayers, as by Roman Catholics and Mohammedans, whence the phrases to tell beads, to at one's beads, to bid beads, etc., meaning, to be at prayer.
- Any small globular body
- A bubble in spirits.
- A drop of sweat or other liquid.
- A small knob of metal on a firearm, used for taking aim (whence the expression to draw a bead, for, to take aim).
- A small molding of rounded surface, the section being usually an arc of a circle. It may be continuous, or broken into short embossments.
- A glassy drop of molten flux, as borax or microcosmic salt, used as a solvent and color test for several mineral earths and oxides, as of iron, manganese, etc., before the blowpipe; as, the borax bead; the iron bead, etc.
2 . Bead [ v. i.]
- To form beadlike bubbles.
3 . Bead [ v. t.]
- To ornament with beads or beading.

Meaning of 'Bead' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . bead [ n]
Meaning (1):
- a shape that is spherical and small
Example in sentence:
  • beads of sweat on his forehead;
  • he studied the shapes of low-viscosity drops
2 . bead [ v]
Meaning (2):
- decorate by sewing beads onto
Example in sentence:
  • bead the wedding gown