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beam
beam / bēm/ • n. 1. a long, sturdy piece of squared timber or metal spanning an opening or part of a building, usually to support the roof or floor above. ∎ another term for balance beam. ∎ a horizontal piece of squared timber or metal supporting the deck and joining the sides of a ship. ∎ Naut. the direction of an object visible from the port or starboard side of a ship when it is perpendicular to the center line of the vessel: there was land in sight on the port beam. ∎ a ship's breadth at its widest point: a cutter with a beam of 16 feet. ∎ the crossbar of a balance. ∎ (esp. in a stationary steam engine) an oscillating shaft through which the vertical piston movement is transmitted to the crank or pump. 2. a ray or shaft of light: a beam of light flashed in front of her. ∎ a directional flow of particles or radiation: beams of electrons. ∎ a series of radio or radar signals emitted to serve as a navigational guide for ships or aircraft. 3. [in sing.] a radiant or good-natured look or smile: a beam of satisfaction. • v. 1. [tr.] transmit (a radio signal or broadcast) in a specified direction: beaming a distress signal into space [intr.] the TV station begins beaming into homes in the new year. ∎ [tr.] (beam someone up/down) (in science fiction) transport someone instantaneously to another place, esp. to or from a spaceship: Scotty, beam me up! 2. [intr.] (of a light or light source) shine brightly: the sun's rays beamed down. 3. [intr.] smile radiantly: she beamed with pleasure [as adj.] (beaming) a beaming smile. ∎ [tr.] express (an emotion) with a radiant smile: the teacher beamed her approval. 4. (beamed) construct a ceiling with exposed beams: vaulted beamed ceilings in the family room. PHRASES: a beam in one's eye a fault that is greater in oneself than in the person one is finding fault with. off (or way off) beam inf. on the wrong track; mistaken: you're way off beam on this one. on the beam inf. on the right track. |
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"beam." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "beam." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-beam.html "beam." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-beam.html |
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beam
beam.
1. One of the transverse members of a ship's frames on which the decks are laid. In vessels constructed of wood they are supported at their ends by being dovetailed into the beam shelf or carlings. In steel ships they are bracketed to the frames. The depth of a beam is known as its moulding, its width as its siding. For illus. see shipbuilding. 2. The transverse measurement of a ship at its widest part. It is also a term used in indicating direction in relation to a ship, thus before the beam, the arc of a semicircle extended to the horizon from the beam of the ship around the bows to the other beam; abaft the beam, the similar semicircle extending round the stern of the ship. For illus. see relative bearings. 3. The wooden or metal bar which spreads the mouth of a trawl when fishing. See also fisheries. |
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"beam." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "beam." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-beam.html "beam." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-beam.html |
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beam
beam n.
1. the direction of an object visible from the port or starboard side of a ship when it is perpendicular to the center line of the vessel: there was land in sight on the port beam. 2. a ship's breadth at its widest point: a cutter with a beam of 16 feet. 3. the shank of an anchor. 4. a series of radio or radar signals emitted to serve as a navigational guide for ships or aircraft. v. 1. transmit (a radio signal or broadcast) in a specified direction: beaming a distress signal into space. on her or its beam-ends (of a ship) heeled over on its side; almost capsized. |
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"beam." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "beam." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-beam.html "beam." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-beam.html |
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beam
beam
1. A stream of radiation or particles confined to a narrow range of directions. 2. An imaginary stream of radiation originating at the focus of a telescope (or central point of an array of telescopes) and illuminating the volume of space from which the telescope or array can receive radiation. The term is commonly used to refer to the patch of sky to which the telescope is sensitive. Optical and infrared telescopes generally have a simple circular beam, while radio telescopes (especially interferometers) may have beams of a complex shape. See also Fan Beam; Pencil Beam. |
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"beam." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "beam." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-beam.html "beam." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-beam.html |
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beam
beam1 a long, sturdy piece of squared timber used to support a roof or floor.
on one's beam-ends at the end of one's financial resources; beam-ends are the ends of a ship's beams, and a ship on her beam-ends is one on its side, almost capsizing. a beam in one's eye a fault that is greater in oneself than in the person with whom one is finding fault, in allusion to Matthew 7:3 ‘Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?’ |
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "beam." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "beam." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-beam.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "beam." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-beam.html |
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beam
beam3 beam someone up (or down) in science fiction, transport someone instantaneously to or from a spaceship. The phrase came originally from the American television series Star Trek ‘Beam me up, Scotty’ is often given as the form in which Captain Kirk requested return from a planet to the Starship Enterprise, but in fact the nearest equivalent found is, ‘Beam us up, Mr Scott.’
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Cite this article
ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "beam." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "beam." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-beam2.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "beam." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-beam2.html |
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beam
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DARREL INCE. "beam." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. DARREL INCE. "beam." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O12-beam.html DARREL INCE. "beam." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O12-beam.html |
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beam
beam Squared timbers were used to support a flat Palestinian roof. In Jesus' parable of Luke 6: 41 REB uses ‘plank’ for AV ‘beam’, but ‘log’ of NRSV is misleading for English readers.
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W. R. F. BROWNING. "beam." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. W. R. F. BROWNING. "beam." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-beam.html W. R. F. BROWNING. "beam." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-beam.html |
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beam
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JAMES STEVENS CURL. "beam." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JAMES STEVENS CURL. "beam." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-beam.html JAMES STEVENS CURL. "beam." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-beam.html |
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beam
beam †tree; plank; ray of light. OE. bēam, OS. bōm, OHG. boum (G. baum) :- WGmc. *bauma; rel. obscurely to Goth. bagms, ON. baðmr tree.
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T. F. HOAD. "beam." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "beam." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-beam.html T. F. HOAD. "beam." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-beam.html |
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Beam
Beama ray or collection of parallel rays. Examples: beam of comfort, 1742; of glory; of heat, 1860; of light rays; of sunlight; of truth, 1674. |
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"Beam." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Beam." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505300108.html "Beam." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505300108.html |
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beam
beam2 off beam on the wrong track, mistaken. Originally (mid 20th century) referring to the radio beam or signal used to guide aircraft.
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Cite this article
ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "beam." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "beam." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-beam1.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "beam." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-beam1.html |
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beam
beam
•abeam, agleam, beam, blaspheme, bream, cream, deem, deme, downstream, dream, esteem, extreme, gleam, hakim, kilim, meme, midstream, Nîmes, ream, régime, scheme, scream, seam, seem, steam, stream, supreme, team, teem, theme, upstream
•cross-beam • hornbeam • moonbeam
•sunbeam • academe • morpheme
•phoneme • jet stream • airstream
•daydream • mainstream • Brylcreem
•millstream • slipstream
•bloodstream • monotreme
•buttercream • raceme • septime
•centime
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"beam." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "beam." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-beam.html "beam." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-beam.html |
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BEAM
BEAM (biːm) Med. brain electrical activity mapping
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FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH. "BEAM." The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH. "BEAM." The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O25-BEAM.html FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH. "BEAM." The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations. 1998. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O25-BEAM.html |
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