'Bead' definitions:
Definition of 'bead'
From: WordNet
noun
A small ball with a hole through the middle
noun
A shape that is spherical and small; "he studied the shapes of low-viscosity drops"; "beads of sweat on his forehead" [syn: drop, bead, pearl]
noun
verb
Form into beads, as of water or sweat, for example
verb
Decorate by sewing beads onto; "bead the wedding gown"
verb
String together like beads
Definition of 'Bead'
From: GCIDE
- Bead \Bead\ (b[=e]d), n. [OE. bede prayer, prayer bead, AS. bed, gebed, prayer; akin to D. bede, G. bitte, AS. biddan, to ask, bid, G. bitten to ask, and perh. to Gr. pei`qein to persuade, L. fidere to trust. Beads are used by the Roman Catholics to count their prayers, one bead being dropped down a string every time a prayer is said. Cf. Sp. cuenta bead, fr. contar to count. See Bid, in to bid beads, and Bide.]
- 1. A prayer. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
- 2. A little perforated ball, to be strung on a thread, and worn for ornament; or used in a rosary for counting prayers, as by Roman Catholics and Mohammedans, whence the phrases to tell beads,
- to be at one's beads,
- to bid beads, etc., meaning, to be at prayer. [1913 Webster]
- 3. Any small globular body; as, (a) A bubble in spirits. (b) A drop of sweat or other liquid. "Cold beads of midnight dew." --Wordsworth. (c) A small knob of metal on a firearm, used for taking aim (whence the expression to draw a bead, for, to take aim). (d) (Arch.) A small molding of rounded surface, the section being usually an arc of a circle. It may be continuous, or broken into short embossments. (e) (Chem.) A glassy drop of molten flux, as borax or microcosmic salt, used as a solvent and color test for several mineral earths and oxides, as of iron, manganese, etc., before the blowpipe; as, the borax bead; the iron bead, etc. [1913 Webster]
- Bead and butt (Carp.), framing in which the panels are flush, having beads stuck or run upon the two edges. --Knight.
- Bead mold, a species of fungus or mold, the stems of which consist of single cells loosely jointed together so as to resemble a string of beads. [Written also bead mould.]
- Bead tool, a cutting tool, having an edge curved so as to make beads or beading.
- Bead tree (Bot.), a tree of the genus Melia, the best known species of which (Melia azedarach), has blue flowers which are very fragrant, and berries which are poisonous. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Bead'
From: GCIDE
Definition of 'Bead'
From: GCIDE
- Bead \Bead\, v. i. To form beadlike bubbles. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'bead'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- anklet,
- armlet,
- ball,
- balloon,
- bangle,
- beads,
- bejewel,
- beribbon,
- bespangle,
- bijou,
- bracelet,
- breastpin,
- brooch,
- chain,
- chaplet,
- charm,
- chatelaine,
- circle,
- conglobulate,
- coronet,
- crown,
- dewdrop,
- diadem,
- diamond,
- drop,
- droplet,
- earring,
- engrave,
- feather,
- figure,
- filigree,
- flag,
- flounce,
- flower,
- fob,
- garland,
- gem,
- globe,
- illuminate,
- jewel,
- locket,
- mushroom,
- necklace,
- nose ring,
- paint,
- pearl,
- pin,
- plume,
- precious stone,
- raindrop,
- rhinestone,
- ribbon,
- ring,
- snowball,
- spangle,
- sphere,
- spherify,
- stickpin,
- stone,
- teardrop,
- tiara,
- tinsel,
- torque,
- wampum,
- wreathe,
- wristband,
- wristlet
Words containing 'Bead'
- Beaded,
- Beading,
- beads,
- Baily's beads,
- Bead and butt,
- Bead mold,
- Bead proof,
- Bead tool,
- Bead tree,
- Borax bead,
- Stop bead,
- To bid beads,
- bead and quirk,
- bead fern,
- bead mould,
- beaded lizard,
- beading plane,
- black bead,
- draw a bead on,
- jumbie bead,
- jumble bead,
- jumby bead,
- poppit bead,
- prayer beads,
- quirk bead,
- string of beads,
- to be at one's beads,
- white bead,
- Saint Cuthbert's beads,
- mexican beaded lizard,
- beaded beady bejeweled bejewelled bespangled gemmed jeweled jewelled sequined spangled spangly