beta

¹be·ta

noun \ˈbā-tə, chiefly British ˈbē-\

Definition of BETA

1

: the 2d letter of the Greek alphabet — see alphabet table

2

: beta particle

3

: a measure of the risk potential of a stock or an investment portfolio expressed as a ratio of the stock's or portfolio's volatility to the volatility of the market as a whole

4

: a nearly complete prototype of a product (as software) <released in beta> <the beta version>

Examples of BETA

1. a program that is currently in beta

Origin of BETA

Middle English betha, from Latin beta, from Greek bēta, of Semitic origin; akin to Hebrew bēth beth

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Alphabet Terms

cuneiform, linear, minuscule, pictograph, rune, symbology, wedge

Rhymes with BETA

data, eta, theta, zeta

²beta

adjective

Definition of BETA

: second in position in the structure of an organic molecule from a particular group or atom <beta substitution> —often used in combination —symbol β

First Known Use of BETA

1862

Other Chemical Engineering Terms

alkali, cation, decant, hygroscopic, isotope, oxidize, slurry, solute, viscous