beta

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Computing

n. a version of a product, like a game or app, that is being tested before it is finished.

n. a pre-release version of software or a product that is distributed for testing by a limited audience before the final launch.

“I am playing the beta of the new racing game to help the developers find bugs.”

“The company invited five thousand users to join the closed beta to ensure the servers could handle the traffic.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Slang · Informal

n. a person who is seen as less powerful or less confident than a leader.

n. a person, typically male, perceived as having a passive or submissive role in a social or professional hierarchy.

“In many old movies, the hero is an alpha and his sidekick is a beta.”

“The article critiqued the modern obsession with categorizing men into alpha and beta archetypes.”

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Finance Technical

n. a measure of how much a stock's price moves compared to the rest of the market.

n. a measure of the volatility, or systematic risk, of a security or portfolio in comparison to the market as a whole.

“Investors look at a stock's beta to see if it is a risky investment.”

“A stock with a beta higher than one is generally more volatile than the overall market index.”

C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Sports Slang · Informal

n. advice or information about how to complete a specific climbing route.

n. specific information or advice regarding the moves and techniques required to complete a climbing route.

“He gave me some great beta on how to get past the difficult section of the cliff.”

“Before attempting the boulder problem, she watched several videos to gather beta on the optimal hand placements.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Computing

adj. describing something that is not yet finished and is still being tested.

adj. relating to the second stage of software testing or a product in its preliminary, pre-release state.

“The beta version of the app crashed several times during the first hour.”

“The developers released a beta patch to address the most urgent security vulnerabilities reported by the community.”

C1 · Advanced Computing Informal · Technical

v. to test a new product before it is released to everyone.

v. to subject a product or software to a beta testing phase.

“We need to beta the new website for a month before we go live.”

“The studio decided to beta the multiplayer mode extensively to balance the gameplay mechanics.”