bead

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
1. a bubble in an effervescing liquid
2. 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.
1. a narrow, half-round molding
2. 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

intransitive verb

to form a bead or beads

bead′ed adjective

draw a bead on

☆

to take careful aim at

say one's beads

or tell one's beads or count one's beads

to pray with a rosary

take aim at, train on, sight, get in the sights; see aim 2.

Object

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.

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