noun

1. Obsolete the squared-off trunk of a tree
   1. a long, thick piece of wood, metal, or stone, used in building
   2. such a piece used as a horizontal support for a roof, ceiling, etc.
   one of the two large rollers of a loom the barlike, horizontal part of a plow, to which the handles, share, etc. are attached the crossbar of a balance; also, occasionally, the balance itself the main shaft of a deer's antler any of the heavy, horizontal crosspieces of a ship a ship's breadth at its widest point the side of a ship or the direction extending outward on either side at right angles to the fore-and-aft line of a ship, aircraft, etc.Slang the width of the hipsGym. balance beamMech. a lever that is moved back and forth by a piston rod and transmits its motion to the crank, etc. as in some early steam engines

2. Etymology: orig. transl. of L columna lucis, column of light

   a shaft or stream of light or other radiation, as of X-rays or nuclear particles: also used figuratively a radiant look, smile, etc. a stream of radio or radar signals sent continuously in one direction from a landing field, harbor, etc. as a guide for incoming aircraft or ships

Etymology: ME < OE, a tree, piece of wood, column; akin to Ger baum, Du boom, tree

transitive verb

1. to give out (shafts of light); radiate in a beam or beams
2. to direct or aim (a radio signal, program, etc.)
3. to construct (a ceiling) so that the beams are exposed

intransitive verb

1. to shine brightly; be radiant
2. to smile warmly