beta

1 of 2

noun

be·​ta ˈbā-tə How to pronounce beta (audio)
chiefly British
ˈbē- How to pronounce beta (audio)
plural betas
1
: the 2nd letter of the Greek alphabet see Alphabet Table
2
: something or someone designated with the name beta or the Greek letter β especially denoting the second in position, order, or class
3
: a nearly complete prototype of a product (such as software)
the beta version
also : a stage of development in which a product is nearly complete but not yet ready for release
The app is still in beta.
4
: beta particle
beta emissions
5
: a measure of the risk potential of a stock or an investment portfolio expressed as a ratio of the stock's or portfolio's volatility to the volatility of the market as a whole
Beta measures a stock's price volatility—or risk—compared with the market in general …Marlys J. Harris
6
: beta wave
The findings could also help scientists better understand other beta-associated disorders, such as Parkinson's disease or obsessive compulsive disorder …Brown University News Release (Providence, Rhode Island)

beta

2 of 2

adjective

: second in position in the structure of an organic molecule from a particular group or atom
beta substitution
often used in combination
symbol β

Examples of beta in a Sentence

Noun a program that is currently in beta
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Some of the most interesting filters are still in beta: Color Transfer, Depth Blur, Harmonization, Landscape Mixer, and Photo Restoration. PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024 And so when Covid hit, people were calculating this beta number. Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 7 Nov. 2024
Adjective
This latest batch of features is included in a beta version of iOS 18.2 for software developers that was released Wednesday. Kif Leswing, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2024 Game developers often release beta versions or conduct A/B testing on various game features to gauge user reaction and make improvements. Abdo Riani, Forbes, 19 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for beta 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English betha, from Latin beta, from Greek bēta, of Semitic origin; akin to Hebrew bēth beth

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1862, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of beta was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near beta

Cite this Entry

“Beta.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beta. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

beta

noun
be·​ta
ˈbāt-ə
: the 2nd letter of the Greek alphabet
Β or β

Medical Definition

beta

1 of 2 noun
be·​ta
ˈbāt-ə, chiefly British ˈbē-tə
1
: the second letter of the Greek alphabet
symbol Β or β
2
3

beta

2 of 2 adjective
variants or β-
1
: of or relating to one of two or more closely related chemical substances
the beta chain of hemoglobin
β-yohimbine
used somewhat arbitrarily to specify ordinal relationship or a particular physical form and especially one that is allotropic, isomeric, stereoisomeric, or sometimes polymeric (as in β-D-glucose)
2
: second in position in the structure of an organic molecule from a particular group or atom
also : occurring at or having a structure characterized by such a position
beta substitution
3
: producing a zone of decolorization when grown on blood media
used of some hemolytic streptococci or of the hemolysis they cause

More from Merriam-Webster on beta

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