Bead — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈbēd/

Meaning & Definition of Bead

Bead (noun)

  1. prayer —usually plural
  2. a series of prayers and meditations made with a rosary
  3. a small piece of material pierced for threading on a string or wire (as in a rosary)

Bead (verb)

  1. to furnish, adorn, or cover with beads or beading
  2. to string together like beads
  3. to form into a bead

Bead (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the quantity of fluid that falls naturally in one rounded mass

    "squeeze a bead or two of glue onto the seam"

    similar: blob, driblet, drip, drop, droplet, glob, globule
    related: gobbet, dewdrop, raindrop, tear, teardrop, spatter, dribble, trickle

Bead (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in pearl, pellet

    similar: pearl, pellet, pelletize, bunch, clump, lump, sphere, agglomerate, ball, roll, round, wad
    opposite: unroll, flatten, open, smooth, spread, unfold

Related Entry: Draw (verb)

Draw is a different word from Bead. The synonyms below are for draw, not for bead.

  1. to make a representation of by producing lines on a surface

    "see if you can draw the bowl of fruit"

    similar: picture
    related: caricature, cartoon, crayon, ink, pencil, outline, profile, scrawl, scribble, sketch

  2. to cause to follow by applying steady force on

    "draw a chair up to the fire and sit with us"

    similar: drag, hale, haul, lug, pull, tow, tug
    related: attract, heave, jerk, yank, carry, convey, ferry, move, transport
    opposite: drive, propel, push
    near: shove, thrust

  3. to give a representation or account of in words

    "a writer who draws characters with lifelike clarity"

    similar: delineate, depict, describe, image, limn, paint, picture, portray, render, set out, sketch
    related: characterize, define, label, qualify, represent, demonstrate, illustrate, narrate, recite, recount, rehearse, relate, report, tell, display, exhibit, show, hint, suggest, draft, outline, silhouette, trace, vignette, summarize, sum up, touch off, redescribe, reimage
    near: color, distort, falsify, garble, misdescribe, misrepresent, misstate, pervert, twist, warp

  4. to receive as return for effort

    "draws a hefty weekly salary"

    similar: acquire, attain, bag, bring in, capture, carry, come by, earn, gain, garner, get, knock down, land, make, obtain, procure, pull down, realize, reap, secure, win
    related: clear, gross, net, accomplish, achieve, notch (up), score, accumulate, amass, rack up, catch, pick up, annex, occupy, take over, reacquire, reattain, recapture, regain, remake
    opposite: forfeit, lose
    near: accord, give, grant, pay, give up, hand over, part (with), relinquish, surrender, yield

  5. to take away from a place or position

    "draw her aside so we can ask a quick question"

    similar: clear, remove, take out, withdraw
    related: demount, dislodge, abstract, cut, draw off, draw out, extract, pull, budge, dislocate, displace, disturb, move, shift, transfer, transpose
    opposite: place, position, put
    near: mount, anchor, clamp, fix, hitch, moor, secure, set, embed, entrench, implant, ingrain, lodge, root, set up, site, situate, stick

  6. to take the internal organs out of

    "hated the thought of having to pluck and draw a goose before cooking it"

    similar: clean, disembowel, eviscerate, gut
    related: bone, dress, cut, excise, extract, remove, withdraw, yank, transplant

  7. to shape with a hammer

    "drew the metal into a thin sheet by pounding it"

    similar: beat, forge, hammer, pound
    related: chase, planish, fashion, form, knead, model, mold, pat, work, coin, mint, stamp, abate, boast, carve, chisel, cut, grave, hew, knap, sculpt, sculpture

Related Entry: Draw (off) (verb)

Draw (off) is a different word from Bead. The synonyms below are for draw (off), not for bead.

  1. to remove (liquid) gradually or completely

    "drew off the fat from the top of the drippings"

    similar: bleed, draft, drain, pump, siphon, tap
    related: milk, suck, clear, empty, evacuate, exhaust, vacate, vacuate, void, decant, effuse, deplete, clean, flush, purge
    opposite: fill
    near: bathe, douse, drench, soak, souse, wash, water, wet, deluge, drown, flood, inundate, overflow, submerge, swamp

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Bead

The most common words with a similar meaning to Bead:

blob, driblet, drip, drop, droplet, glob, globule, pearl, pellet, pelletize, bunch, clump, lump, sphere, agglomerate, ball, roll, round, wad

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Bead

Words with the opposite meaning of Bead:

unroll, flatten, open, smooth, spread, unfold

Related Words for Bead

gobbet, dewdrop, raindrop, tear, teardrop, spatter, dribble, trickle

Word Forms of Bead

Inflections: beaded, beading, beads

Derived words: beader (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Bead

Middle English bede prayer, prayer bead, from Old English bed, gebed prayer; akin to Old English biddan to entreat, pray bid:1

First known use: before 12th century

Words & Phrases Containing Bead

draw a bead on

Frequently Asked Questions about Bead

What does "Bead" mean?

"Bead" means prayer —usually plural. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: prayer —usually plural. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Bead"?

Other words for "Bead" include blob, driblet, drip, drop, droplet, glob, globule and pearl. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Bead" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Bead"?

There are 27 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Bead". Common alternatives include blob, driblet, drip, drop, droplet, glob, globule, pearl, pellet and pelletize.

What is the opposite of "Bead"?

Antonyms of "Bead" include unroll, flatten, open, smooth, spread and unfold.

How do you use "Bead" in a sentence?

Examples of "Bead" in a sentence: "squeeze a bead or two of glue onto the seam".

Is "Bead" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Bead" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Bead"?

"Bead" is pronounced /ˈbēd/.

What is the origin of the word "Bead"?

"Bead" comes from Middle English bede prayer, prayer bead, from Old English bed, gebed prayer; akin to Old English biddan to entreat, pray bid:1. First known use: before 12th century.