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| beam [ beem ] |
noun (plural beams) |
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| Definition: |
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1. horizontal structural support: a horizontal structural member, e.g. a long piece of timber, metal, or concrete that spans a gap and supports a floor, roof, or other structure above
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2. line of light: a narrow line of light, e.g. from a flashlight
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3. broad smile: a broad smile of happiness or satisfaction
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4. nautical structural crosspiece in ship: a structural member of a ship or boat that joins the sides and supports the deck
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5. nautical ship's breadth: the full breadth of a ship
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6. nautical side of ship: either of the sides of a ship
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7. physics flow of radiation: a narrow stream of radiation or particles flowing in one direction
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8. navigation guiding signal: a radio or radar signal intended to guide a ship or aircraft, or the direction indicated by this signal
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9. U.K. gymnastics
Same as balance beam
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10. horizontal part of balance: the pivoted horizontal bar of a balance on which the two scales hang
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11. main supporting shaft: a main bar or shaft, e.g. either of the main stems of a deer's antlers or the central shaft of a plow
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12. mechanical engineering connecting lever in engine: a lever connecting the piston rod and crankshaft in an engine
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13. manufacturing roller in loom: a cylinder in a loom on which either the warp or the cloth is wound
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verb (past and past participle beamed, present participle beam·ing, 3rd person present singular beams) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb smile broadly: to smile broadly with happiness or satisfaction, or express feelings by smiling broadly
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2. transitive verb broadcasting send radio or TV signal: to send or transmit a program to a distant place in the form of a radio or television signal
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3. transitive and intransitive verb shine: to shine, or shine something, in a particular direction
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4. transitive and intransitive verb change circumstances suddenly: to move between completely different places or situations in a sudden and disorienting way, or make somebody or something move in this way
(
slang
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(
used with "up" or "down"
)
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| [ Old English bēam "tree, piece of timber, column, ray" < Germanic] |
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broad or wide in the beam having wide hips (informal)sometimes considered offensive
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off the beam missing the point or irrelevant (informal)
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on the beam
1. using a beam for guidance
2. on track or working effectively (informal)
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