ENGLISH
REFERENCE

abeam

adv.
C1 Advanced UK //ɐbˈiːm// abeam

adv. at a right angle to the direction you are facing. You use this when talking about the sides of a ship or plane.

adv. at a right angle to the direction of motion or the line of sight. Often used in nautical or aviation contexts to describe the lateral position of an object relative to a vessel.


SIMPLE

The lighthouse was abeam of the ship.

CONTEXTUAL

The pilot adjusted the aircraft so that the runway lights were abeam of the cockpit.

COMPLEX

As the vessel approached the harbor, the crew noted that the buoy was abeam of the stern, indicating they were on the correct heading for the turning circle.

Etymology 1

From a- (“in the direction of”) + beam (“keel”).

Etymology 2

From a- + beam (“to emit beams of light”).

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