Beam — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈbēm/

Meaning & Definition of Beam

Beam (noun)

  1. a long piece of heavy often squared timber suitable for use in construction
  2. a wood or metal cylinder in a loom on which the warp is wound
  3. the part of a plow to which handles, standard, and coulter are attached

Beam (verb)

  1. to emit in beams or as a beam
  2. to support with beams
  3. to transmit especially by satellite, broadcast

Beam (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a narrow sharply defined line of light radiating from an object

    "we'll need a flashlight that casts a broader beam in order to really see anything"

    similar: ray, shaft
    related: moonbeam, sunbeam, sunburst, laser, spotlight

Beam (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to emit rays of light

    "a lighthouse has beamed from this site since the 1790s"

    similar: radiate, ray, shine
    related: blaze, burn, fire, flame, gleam, glimmer, glint, glisten, glister, glitter, glow, luminesce, sheen, shimmer, blink, coruscate, flare, flash, flicker, luster, scintillate, spangle, sparkle, twinkle, wink, winkle, beat (down), glare, brighten, illuminate, illumine, irradiate, light, lighten, bedazzle, blind, daze, dazzle
    near: blacken, darken, lower

  2. to express an emotion (as amusement) by curving the lips upward

    "my father beamed when I showed him my new car"

    similar: grin, smile
    related: laugh, simper, smirk, sneer
    near: grimace, frown, glare, gloom, glower, lower, scowl, pout, sulk

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Beam

The most common words with a similar meaning to Beam:

ray, shaft, radiate, shine, grin, smile

Related Words for Beam

moonbeam, sunbeam, sunburst, laser, spotlight, blaze, burn, fire, flame, gleam, glimmer, glint, glisten, glister, glitter, glow, luminesce, sheen, shimmer, blink, coruscate, flare, flash, flicker, luster, scintillate, spangle, sparkle, twinkle, wink

Near Antonyms of Beam

blacken, darken, lower, grimace, frown, glare, gloom, glower, scowl, pout, sulk

Word Forms of Beam

Inflections: beamed, beaming, beams

Origin & Etymology of Beam

Middle English beem, from Old English bēam tree, beam; akin to Old High German boum tree

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Beam

Words & Phrases Containing Beam

beam-ends, beam sea, beam splitter, beam weapon, balance beam, high beam, I beam, low beam

Frequently Asked Questions about Beam

What does "Beam" mean?

"Beam" means a long piece of heavy often squared timber suitable for use in construction. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a long piece of heavy often squared timber suitable for use in construction. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Beam"?

Other words for "Beam" include ray, shaft, radiate, shine, grin and smile. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Beam" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Beam"?

There are 53 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Beam". Common alternatives include ray, shaft, radiate, shine, grin and smile.

How do you use "Beam" in a sentence?

Examples of "Beam" in a sentence: "we'll need a flashlight that casts a broader beam in order to really see anything"; "a lighthouse has beamed from this site since the 1790s"; "my father beamed when I showed him my new car".

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

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

Is "Beam" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Beam" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Beam"?

"Beam" is pronounced /ˈbēm/.

What is the origin of the word "Beam"?

"Beam" comes from Middle English beem, from Old English bēam tree, beam; akin to Old High German boum tree. First known use: before 12th century.