Etymology

Noun

1. Prayer, later especially with a rosary.
   • 1760, Laurence Sterne, The Life & Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, Penguin 2003, p. 115:

     That he must believe in the Pope;—go to Mass;—cross himself;—tell his beads;—be a good Catholick, and that this, in all conscience, was enough to carry him to heaven.

2. Each in a string of small balls making up the rosary or paternoster.
3. A small round object with a hole to allow it to be threaded on a cord or wire.
4. A small drop of water or other liquid.

   beads of sweat

5. A rigid edge of a tire that mounts it on a wheel; tire bead.

Verb

1. To form into a bead.

   The raindrops beaded on the car's waxed finish.

2. To apply beads to.

   She spent the morning beading the gown.

3. To form into a bead.

   He beaded some solder for the ends of the wire.

Verb form

1. I will be

Related terms

• beidh
• beir
• beimid
• beid
• beifear

Verb form

1. first- and third-person singular preterite of bēodan