BEAD • DICCIONARIO INGLES.COM • Definition of Bead

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noun

Bead n.

1.

A prayer. (Obs.)

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 Muslims, whence the phrases to tell beads, to be at one's beads, to bid beads, etc., meaning, to be at prayer.

3.

Any small globular body; as,

(a)

A bubble in spirits.

(b)

A drop of sweat or other liquid. "Cold beads of midnight dew."

(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.

Bead and butt (Carp.), framing in which the panels are flush, having beads stuck or run upon the two edges.

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.

verb

Bead v. t. (past & past part. beaded; pres. part. beading) To ornament with beads or beading.

Bead v. i. To form beadlike bubbles.

See images of 'Bead'

Etymology of 'Bead'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Bead" Quotes from Famous Books

... have caught me, to-night," Jerry observed guardedly. "I had to think quick. I'll tell you the lay of the land, Bud, seeing you're a stranger here. Marian's man, Lew, he's a damned bully and somebody is going to draw a fine bead on him some day when he ain't looking. But he stands in, so the less yuh take notice the better. Marian, she's a fine little woman that minds her own business, but she's getting a cold deck slipped into the game right along. Honey's jealous of ...

— Cow-Country • B. M. Bower

... Jack's head was now so low in the chair that his eyes could draw a bead along his ...

— The Fortunes of Oliver Horn • F. Hopkinson Smith

... was with them when he wanted to be—instantly. Or they came to the flat in the friendliest way. And when its unpleasant duties claimed him—the Monday wash, the Tuesday ironing, the Saturday scrubbing, or the regular everyday jobs such as dishes, beds, cooking, bead-stringing, and violet-making—frequently they helped him, lightening his work with their charming companionship, stimulating him with their ...

— The Rich Little Poor Boy • Eleanor Gates

... "all of you fire your first shot into Jim Ferrers. After that we'll take charge of the youngsters! Get a close bead on ...

— The Young Engineers in Nevada • H. Irving Hancock

... have nev' see that ring, which my Julienne, she wore on her finger. Ah, no? You have nev' see, in all the time that you come to Ba'teese house, the string of bead about her neck. Oui! Eet is the lie, you tell. You have see them—eet is ...

— The White Desert • Courtney Ryley Cooper

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