bead Definition
bead (bēd)
noun
- a small, usually round piece of glass, wood, metal, etc., pierced for stringing
- rosary (sense )
- a string of beads; necklace
- any small, round object, as the sight at the muzzle end of a gun barrel
- a drop or bubble beads of sweat
- a bubble in an effervescing liquid
- foam or a head, as on beer
- a globule of metal, as gold or silver, obtained by refining in a cupel
- the liplike region around a pneumatic tire that seals to the rim
- Archit.
- a narrow, half-round molding
- a molding composed of small rounded ornaments, like a string of beads
- Chem. a beadlike mass usually formed inside the loop of a platinum wire by the action of a flux, such as borax, upon the oxide or salt of certain metals: used in identifying metals in their compounds, since the metal determines the color of the bead
Etymology: ME bede, prayer, prayer bead < OE bed < biddan, to pray, ask: see bid
transitive verb
- to decorate or string with beads or beading
- to string like beads
intransitive verb
to form a bead or beads
bead Related Forms
bead′ed adjective
bead Idioms
draw a bead on
☆to take careful aim at
say one's beads
or tell one's beads or count one's beadsto pray with a rosary
bead Synonyms
bead
n.
A small globule
drop, droplet, bubble, globule, pellet, grain, particle, speck, dot, dab, pea, shot, pill, spherule, driblet; see also bean 2.A small ornament
draw a bead on
bead Usage Examples
Object
- necklace: A very pretty vintage beaded necklace, dating to circa 1932.
- jewelry: Also hand beaded jewelry, gourmet coffee and tea & more.
Converse of object
- lace: With Itty Bitty Beading Bugs, children can lace soft beads and plastic spacers in a multitude of combinations.
- exfoliate: As well as tiny exfoliating beads, it also contains vitamins A and E to encourage faster cell regeneration.
Adjective modifier
- amber: This is a very cool retro necklace in lovely chunky amber colored glass beads, dating circa 1980.
- facetted: This is a charming vintage necklace, made up of graduated facetted clear glass beads.
- opaque: Two parallel rows of opaque white beads are applied around edge.
- anal: His and hers anal beads, anal enjoyment for both, especially when removed on the point of orgasm.
- pearl: The design of the embroidery is of flowers and leaves worked in gold thread and the flowers are defined with simulated pearl beads.
Modifies a noun
necklace: A fantastic impressive vintage retro bead necklace, perfect for your vintage chic, retro chic wardrobe.
Noun used with modifier
- rosary: Her rosary beads hang boldly down in front of her; within 50 years, possession of them would be punishable by death.
- hama: Glow in the Dark - hama beads, of course!
- polystyrene: Filling consists of 100 % polystyrene foam micro beads.
- faience: Some of the tin beads are shaped like segmented faience beads.
- gemstone: Materials used include pearls, Swarovski crystals, gemstone beads, and more.
- glass: Also, the blocks appear to have been glass bead blasted, making for a nice eye candy treat.
Preposition: of
- perspiration: His hair was on end, his face flushed, his forehead dotted with beads of perspiration.
- sweat: Pete felt a bead of sweat trickle down his face, despite the chill of the Welsh autumn evening.
- sealant: This will feed out a bead of sealant into the gap and should sit just over the tape on each side.
- silicone: The farther down the nozzle you cut, the wider the bead of silicone produced.
Browse dictionary entries near bead
- ‹ Beaconsfield
- ‹ beaconing
- ‹ beacon
- ‹ beachwear
- ‹ beachhead
- ‹ beachfront
- ‹ beached
- ‹ beachcomber
- ‹ beach umbrella
- ‹ beach ridge

