bead

noun \ ˈbēd \

|Updated on: 22 Jun 2018

Examples: bead in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of bead

1 a obsolete : prayer —usually used in plural

b 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)

3 beads plural

a : rosary

b : a necklace of beads or pearls

4 : a small ball-shaped body: such 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

See bead defined for English-language learners

See bead defined for kids

Examples of bead in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of bead from the Web

First, the politicians rolled by, including Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston, and Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, who was accompanied by a full complement of deputies and volunteers handing out necklaces of metallic beads.

— anne geggis, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Pride and joy as Wilton Manors celebrates with big party," 17 June 2018
Smith donned a black scarf, and Carlos unzipped his tracksuit jacket to represent blue-collar workers and to show a necklace of beads to acknowledge those who had been murdered and lynched.

— jerry brewer, chicagotribune.com, "In a time of chaos, 1968 was a breakout year for black athletes," 28 May 2018
Smith donned a black scarf, and Carlos unzipped his tracksuit jacket to represent blue-collar workers and to show a necklace of beads to acknowledge those who had been murdered and lynched.

— jerry brewer, Washington Post, "In a time of chaos, a breakout year for black athletes," 28 May 2018
The open back features an unexpected look: a string of beads creating a fringe finish.

— maria puente, USA TODAY, "Exclusive: Here come the Meghan Markle royal wedding gown knockoffs," 25 May 2018
Erica posted on Facebook, asking neighbors to drop off bags of beads at her house so a tourist in need will always have a throw.

— hanna krueger, NOLA.com, "'Take a throw, leave a throw,' urges creator of a Bead Box in Garden District," 12 May 2018
Globes of the world, tables, crockery, necklaces of thousands of beads are all typically sold by their weight in lapis, $41 a pound to those in the know, often no extra charge for workmanship.

— rod nordland, New York Times, "There Are No Chickens on Chicken Street. Now There Are No Customers Either.," 22 Apr. 2018
But this is Jerry Brown, the atypical politician who just doesn’t toss out endorsements like strings of beads at Mardi Gras.

— john wildermuth, San Francisco Chronicle, "Gavin Newsom keeps lead over John Cox in new governor’s poll," 11 Apr. 2018
This cluster of beads teamed with a flowing white sundress makes the ultimate beachy look.

— ruth kinane, Woman's Day, "4 Beaded Necklaces That Elevate Summer Looks for Under $30," 8 Aug. 2014

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bead.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

bead Synonyms

Synonyms

blob, driblet, drip, drop, droplet, glob, globule;

Related Words

gobbet;

dewdrop, raindrop, tear, teardrop;

spatter;

dribble, trickle;

bead

verb

Definition of bead

beaded; beading; beads

transitive verb

1 : to furnish, adorn, or cover with beads or beading

2 : to string together like beads

intransitive verb

: to form into a bead

—

beader

noun

Recent Examples of bead from the Web

Sampaoli's men cranked it up beading into the 80th and had another shout for a penalty as substitute Cristian Pavon - sent on in place of Angel di Maria - went down in the Iceland box, but the ref was having none of it and didn't even consider VAR.

— SI.com, "Argentina 1-1 Iceland: Messi and Co Stunned by Steely Icelandic Side in World Cup Opener," 16 June 2018
Midge Makuch, also in Willington, works in beading and jewelry.

— kitty leshay, Courant Community, "Art And Garden Tour Beckons Lovers Of Beauty," 6 June 2018
That afternoon, the skies opened and rained holy hell down on this teepee and the water beaded and rolled right to the ground.

— joanna saltz, House Beautiful, "Here's How To Make Your Playroom Teepee An Outdoor Playhouse," 6 June 2018
Ebanks told Vogue, fresh off a flight from Los Angeles and wowing the room in a floral beaded Ronald van der Kemp gown that fell perfectly in line with the evening’s Enchanted Garden theme.

— zachary weiss, Vogue, "Selita Ebanks, Donald Robertson Bring Flower Power to the New Yorkers for Children Fool’s Fete," 30 Apr. 2018
ShakeDry, with its more durable membrane, permanently retains the ability to stop water on its outmost surface—causing it to bead up and run off.

— wes siler, Outside Online, "The Hardshell Jacket of Your Ultralight Dreams," 24 May 2018
Purple Cate Blanchett, Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis put this regal hue's full spectrum on display: Blanchett in a structured, pale purple beaded Givenchy number; Portman in a rich Rodarte number and Kunis in a soft, drapey pale lavender gown.

— Redbook, "Oscar Night's Three Hottest Hues," 28 Feb. 2011
Around 1985, things were just overdone—tons of beading on it.

— james r. hagerty, WSJ, "Amsale Aberra Designed Wedding Gowns With an Understated Elegance," 6 Apr. 2018
For her reign, Queen Julia wore a white silk gown, designed by Royal Design House, that was accentuated by a swooping V pattern down center front which was fully beaded with seed and bugle beads, pearls, and Swarovski rhinestone trim.

— sue strachan, NOLA.com, "Krewe of Mystery's Rose Ball visits Casablanca," 25 Feb. 2018

First Known Use of bead

1577

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

BEAD Defined for English Language Learners

bead

noun

Definition of bead for English Language Learners

: 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
: a small, round drop of liquid (such as water or blood)

BEAD Defined for Kids

bead

noun \ ˈbēd \

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.