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beam

n. · v.
US //ˈbim// UK //bˈiːm// beam
  1. 1 a line of light (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Physics

    a long, thin line of light coming from a source like the sun, a lamp, or a flashlight.

    a concentrated stream of electromagnetic radiation or light particles travelling in a specific direction.

    Example

    The beam from his flashlight cut through the dark woods.

    Example

    A narrow beam of sunlight filtered through the high cathedral windows, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air.
  2. 2 structural support (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a long, thick piece of wood, metal, or concrete used to support the weight of a building or bridge.

    a primary horizontal structural member designed to span an opening and carry a load.

    Example

    The workers lifted the steel beam into place to support the new roof.

    Example

    The renovation revealed original oak beams that had supported the ceiling for over three centuries.
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  1. 3 a wide smile (n.)
    C1 Advanced Literary

    a very big, happy, and bright smile.

    a radiant or expansive facial expression indicating intense satisfaction or joy.

    Example

    She had a huge beam on her face when she saw her surprise gift.

    Example

    The winner stood on the podium with a triumphant beam that reflected her immense relief and pride.
  2. 4 width of a ship (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Nautical

    the width of a ship at its widest point.

    the maximum breadth of a vessel; also used to describe a direction perpendicular to the ship's centerline.

    Example

    The new cruise ship has a beam of over forty metres.

    Example

    The vessel's wide beam provides excellent stability in rough seas but limits the number of ports it can enter.
  3. 5 to smile happily (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to smile very happily or proudly at someone.

    to express great joy or pride through a radiant facial expression; often takes the preposition 'at'.

    Example

    The proud parents beamed at their daughter during the graduation ceremony.

    Example

    The director beamed with satisfaction as the audience rose for a standing ovation at the end of the premiere.
  4. 6 to broadcast (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Computing

    to send out light, heat, or a radio or television signal.

    to transmit a signal, programme, or energy in a specific direction via radio waves or light.

    Example

    The satellite beams television signals to millions of homes around the world.

    Example

    Live footage of the event was beamed across the globe via a high-speed satellite link.
Origin

From Middle English beem, from Old English bēam (“tree, cross, gallows, column, pillar, wood, beam, splint, post, stock, rafter, piece of wood”), from Proto-West Germanic baum, from Proto-Germanic baumaz (“tree, beam, balk”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰew- (“to grow, swell”). Cognate with North Frisian Boom, buum (“tree”), Saterland Frisian Boom (“tree”), West Frisian beam (“tree”), Cimbrian pome, póom, puam (“tree”), Dutch boom (“tree”), German Low German Boom (“tree”), German Baum (“tree”), Luxembourgish Bam (“tree”), Mòcheno pa'm (“tree”), Vilamovian baojm (“tree”), Yiddish בוים (boym, “tree”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, Swedish bom (“beam”), Icelandic baðmur (“tree”), Gothic 𐌱𐌰𐌲𐌼𐍃 (bagms, “tree”), Albanian bimë (“a plant”). Doublet of boom. The original English meaning of beam ("tree") is preserved in some compound words such as quickbeam. The verb is from Middle English bemen, from Old English bēamian (“to shine, to cast forth rays or beams of light”), from the noun.

Word family
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