Definition of bead
1a obsolete : prayer —usually used in pluralb beads 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)
4 : a small ball-shaped body: such asa : a drop of sweat or bloodb : a bubble formed in or on a beveragec : a small metal knob on a firearm used as a front sightd : 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
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Examples of bead in a Sentence
Beads of sweat began rolling down their faces.
squeeze a bead or two of glue onto the seam
Did You Know?
The beads you might wear around your neck once represented prayers. The Middle English word bede at first meant “a prayer.” People then, as now, often kept track of the number and order of a series of prayers with the help of a string of little balls. Because each of these balls stands for a prayer, the word bede came to be used for the balls themselves. Today this same word, now spelled bead, is used to refer to any small piece of material with a hole in it for threading on a string or wire.
Origin and Etymology 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
1577
First Known Use of bead
1577
BEAD Defined for English Language Learners
bead
playDefinition of bead for English Language Learners
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: a small, usually round piece of glass, wood, stone, etc., that has a hole through its center and that is put on a string with other similar pieces and worn as jewelry or that is sewn onto clothing
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: a small, round drop of liquid (such as water or blood)
BEAD Defined for Kids
Definition of bead for Students
1 : a small piece of solid material with a hole through it by which it can be strung on a thread
2 : a small round drop of liquid a bead of sweat
History for bead
In medieval English the word bede, from which our word bead descends, meant “a prayer.” Then, as now, people sometimes used strings of little balls to keep track of their prayers. Each little ball stood for a prayer. In time the word that meant “prayer” came to be used for the little balls themselves. Now any small object that can be strung on a string is called a bead.
Definition of bead for Students
beaded
;beading
: to decorate or cover with beads a beaded dress His face was beaded with sweat.
Learn More about bead
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See words that rhyme with bead Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for bead Spanish Central: Translation of bead Nglish: Translation of bead for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of bead for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bead
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