bead

¹bead

noun \ˈbēd\

Definition of BEAD

1

a obsolete : prayer —usually used in plural b plural : a series of prayers and meditations made with a rosary

2

: a small piece of material pierced for threading on a string or wire (as in a rosary)

3

plural a : rosary b : a necklace of beads or pearls

4

: a small ball-shaped body: as a : a drop of sweat or blood b : a bubble formed in or on a beverage c : a small metal knob on a firearm used as a front sight d : a blob or a line of weld metal

5

: a projecting rim, band, or molding

6

: a precise knowledge or understanding —used in such phrases as get a bead on

Examples of BEAD

1. Beads of sweat began rolling down their faces.
2. <squeeze a bead or two of glue onto the seam>

Origin of BEAD

Middle English bede prayer, prayer bead, from Old English bed, gebed prayer; akin to Old English biddan to entreat, pray — more at bid

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to BEAD

Synonyms: drop, blob, driblet, drip, droplet, glob, globule

Related Words: gobbet; dewdrop, raindrop, tear, teardrop; spatter; dribble, trickle

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Rhymes with BEAD

Bede, bleed, brede, breed, cede, creed, deed, feed, Gide, gleed, greed, heed, keyed, knead, kneed, lead, mead, Mead, Mede, meed, need, plead, read, rede, reed, screed, seed, Snead, speed, steed, swede, treed, tweed, weed