beacon Hear it!

beacon Definition

bea·con (kən)

noun

  1. a signal fire, esp. one on a hill, pole, etc.
  2. any light or radio signal for warning or guiding
  3. a lighthouse
  4. a radio transmitter that sends out signals for the guidance of aircraft, as at night or in fog
  5. a person or thing that warns, offers encouragement or guidance, etc.

Etymology: ME beken < OE beacen, becen < Gmc *baukna, prob. < IE *bhāu-, var. of base *bhā-, to gleam, shine > Gr phainein, to show, appear

transitive verb

  1. to light up (darkness, etc.)
  2. to provide or mark with beacons

intransitive verb

to shine or serve as a beacon

beacon Synonyms

beacon

n.

flare, lantern, guide, signal, signal fire, signal light, signal beam, lighthouse, pharos, lamp, light, torch, rocket, heliograph, beam, radar, sonar, airline beacon, radio beacon, air control beacon.

beacon Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • shine: However the agencies who were doing their job properly stood out like shining beacons.
  • flash: At regular intervals we could see the flashing beacons on the ground that showed us the way to the border.
  • rotate: A variety of inspection lamps and rotating beacons for garge and home use.
  • warn: A hazard warning reflective beacon will be placed off the west pier to warn sailors of a concrete plinth covered at high tide.

Adjective modifier

  • ock: On the new course of 007 we now need to keep an eye on the ' MILES ' counting up from the OCK beacon.
  • navigational: Vehicles will respond to electronic instructions from navigational beacons.
  • Welsh: A Welsh beacon for grouse Clean machines Game, set and point What does the NGO do for you?

Modifies a noun

  • status: Beacon Status Tower Hamlets has been awarded beacon status for the fourth consecutive year.
  • hill: We settled upon a site called Ash Hill, which we later discovered was an old beacon hill.

Noun used with modifier

  • homing: Iron Man Cheats Collect the four homing beacons in each act to access the secret area to retrieve a piece of his armor.
  • belisha: Norfolk County Council is trialing an ultra-bright belisha beacon designed to reduce accidents at crossings at two locations in the county.
  • xenon: Even conventional systems can struggle with the unfriendly loads imposed by a number of xenon beacons operating together.
  • locator: It may also be used to indicate the position of such things as radio locator beacons.
  • roadside: The proposal by Transport for London would use a system of roadside beacons similar to that used in Singapore.
  • radar: In 1968 a high power racon ( radar beacon ) was installed.

Preposition: of

  • excellence: Many of these schools are beacons of excellence in the state sector.
  • hope: The USSR was a beacon of hope for millions.
  • democracy: So much for the West being a " beacon of democracy " .
  • light: She is a beacon of light among the rest of the HM.

Preposition: for

  • grouse: A Welsh beacon for grouse Clean machines Game, set and point What does the NGO do for you?

Browse dictionary entries near beacon

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  6. beach umbrella
  7. beach ridge
  8. beach-la-mar
  9. beach grass
  10. beach flea
  1. beaconing
  2. Beaconsfield
  3. bead
  4. bead-ruby
  5. beadhouse
  6. beading
  7. beadle
  8. beadledom
  9. beadroll
  10. beads