Beam
WordNet
noun
(1) A gymnastic apparatus used by women gymnasts
(2) Long thick piece of wood or metal or concrete, etc., used in construction
(3) (nautical) breadth amidships
(4) A signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides pilots in darkness or bad weather
(5) A column of light (as from a beacon)
(6) A group of nearly parallel lines of electromagnetic radiation
verb
(7) Smile radiantly; express joy through one's facial expression
(8) Broadcast over the airwaves, as in radio or television
"We cannot air this X-rated song"
(9) Express with a beaming face or smile
"He beamed his approval"
(10) Experience a feeling of well-being or happiness, as from good health or an intense emotion
"She was beaming with joy"
"Her face radiated with happiness"
(11) Have a complexion with a strong bright color, such as red or pink
"Her face glowed when she came out of the sauna"
(12) Emit light; be bright, as of the sun or a light
"The sun shone bright that day"
"The fire beamed on their faces"
WiktionaryText
Etymology
beem, bēam, originally meaning "tree," cognate with Dutch boom, German Baum, Old High German boum "tree"
Noun
- 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.
- The maximum width of a vessel; as, one vessel is said to have more beam than another; also called breadth. (FM 55-501).
- The crossbar of a mechanical balance, from the ends of which the scales are suspended.
- The principal stem of the antler of a deer.
- The pole of a carriage.
- A cylinder of wood, making part of a loom, on which weavers wind the warp before weaving; also, the cylinder on which the cloth is rolled, as it is woven; one being called the fore beam, the other the back beam.
- 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.
- 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; -- called also working beam or walking beam.
- A ray or collection of parallel rays emitted from the sun or other luminous body; as, a beam of light, or of heat.
- A ray; a gleam; as, a beam of comfort.
- One of the long feathers in the wing of a hawk; -- called also beam feather.
- A horizontal bar which connects the stems of two or more notes to group them and to indicate metric value.
Verb
- To transmit matter or information via a high-tech wireless mechanism.
- Beam me up, Scotty; there's no intelligent life down here. [Star Trek]
- To smile broadly or especially cheerfully.
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Etymology
From West Germanic *bauma-. Cognate with Old Frisian bām, Old Saxon bām (Dutch boom), Old High German boum (German Baum). The word is related in some way to Gothic 𐌱𐌰𐌲𐌼𐍃, Old Norse baðmr, suggesting a possible ultimate Germanic source *baugmaz.