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beacon

n. · v.
US //ˈbikən// UK //bˈiːkən// bea·con
  1. 1 a signal light (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a bright light or fire used as a signal to guide people or warn them about danger.

    a signal fire or light, typically placed on a high point, used to warn of approaching danger or to guide travellers.

    Example

    The rescue team saw the beacon fire on the mountain and knew where to land.

    Example

    Historically, a chain of beacons was established across the hills to provide an early warning system against invading forces.
  2. 2 nautical marker (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Science

    a tall object or light near the sea that helps ships find their way or avoid rocks.

    a conspicuous mark, buoy, or structure erected on a coast or moored in shallow water to guide mariners.

    Example

    The ship steered carefully toward the harbour beacon during the storm.

    Example

    The coastal authority installed a new radio beacon to assist vessels navigating the treacherous shoals during heavy fog.
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  1. 3 source of inspiration (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Literary

    a person or thing that gives people hope or shows them the right way to act.

    a person, idea, or institution that serves as a source of inspiration or guidance.

    Example

    She was a beacon of hope for everyone in the small village.

    Example

    The university has long stood as a beacon of intellectual freedom in a region often troubled by political censorship.
  2. 4 digital signal (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    a small electronic device that sends a signal to smartphones nearby.

    a low-energy Bluetooth device that broadcasts a unique identifier to nearby portable electronic devices.

    Example

    The museum uses beacons to send information about the paintings to your phone.

    Example

    Retailers are increasingly deploying beacons to track customer movement and deliver personalised promotional offers directly to mobile applications.
  3. 5 to shine or guide (v.)
    C2 Proficiency Literary

    to shine like a signal light or to provide light for others.

    to act as a beacon or to illuminate a path as if with a signal light.

    Example

    The bright moon beaconed the hikers through the dark forest.

    Example

    The lighthouse beaconed across the dark expanse of the Atlantic, offering a solitary point of reference for the midnight watch.
Origin

From Middle English beken, from Old English bēacn (“sign, signal”), from Proto-West Germanic baukn, from Proto-Germanic baukną, from Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂u-, bʰeh₂- (“to shine”). Doublet of buoy. Compare West Frisian beaken (“buoy”), Dutch baken (“beacon”), Middle Low German bāke (“beacon, sign”), German Bake (“traffic sign”), Middle High German bouchen (“sign”).

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