1
a
obsolete
: prayer
—usually used in plural
b
beads plural
: a series of prayers and meditations made with a rosary
2
: a small piece of material pierced for threading on a string or wire (as in a rosary)
4
: a small ball-shaped body: such as
a
: a drop of sweat or blood
b
: a bubble formed in or on a beverage
c
: a small metal knob on a firearm used as a front sight
d
: a blob or a line of weld metal
5
: a projecting rim, band, or molding
6
: a precise knowledge or understanding
—used in such phrases as get a bead on
beaded; beading; beads
2
: to string together like beads
: to form into a bead
beader
noun
Did you know?
The beads you might wear around your neck once represented prayers. The Middle English word bede at first meant “a prayer.” People then, as now, often kept track of the number and order of a series of prayers with the help of a string of little balls. Because each of these balls stands for a prayer, the word bede came to be used for the balls themselves. Today this same word, now spelled bead, is used to refer to any small piece of material with a hole in it for threading on a string or wire.
Examples of bead in a Sentence
Noun
Beads of sweat began rolling down their faces.
squeeze a bead or two of glue onto the seam
Recent Examples on the Web
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 24 Apr. 2024
The house, with Mardis Gras beads dangling from the trees and original fireplaces in both front rooms, is as much a part of the experience as hot sauce on an oyster.
—Kathleen Purvis, Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 2024
The straight post accepts different size rings for frustration-free stacking, while the see-through ring with colorful beads helps little ones connect sight to sound.
—Christine Luff, Parents, 22 Apr. 2024
In a past collection beaded details that represented traditional African glass beads usually seen at weddings or royal occasions were seen on pieces.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 17 Apr. 2024
The site contains remains from at least 24 adults and children, stone tools, beads, lip piercings—and the skeleton of a fox, intentionally buried alongside one of the dead.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2024
While the comfortable signature silhouettes remain the same, Simone Rocha’s DNA is infused throughout each style with clusters of pearls, crystals, and beads strategically crafted into the shape of flowers.
—Alexis Bennett Parker, Vogue, 10 Apr. 2024
The actor also captured random images — sand running through his fingers, a bowl of orange beads — that wound up in the movie.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
The family's eldest daughter Luna, 7, also dressed up for the occasion, wearing a sparkly pale pink top and sash, which was embroidered with beads and jewels, as well as a long blue silk skirt.
—Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024
Rebecca Boyle, Discover Magazine, 23 Apr. 2024
In a past collection beaded details that represented traditional African glass beads usually seen at weddings or royal occasions were seen on pieces.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 17 Apr. 2024
Founded in 2017, the brand offers fun takes on classics like friendship bracelets and beaded necklaces.
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 4 Apr. 2024
In the picture, her husband, Henry Chase Hager, 45, has his arms around Bush Hager, who wore a white shirt and beaded necklace.
—Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2024
Ashley Haugen, a mother of two from San Antonio, bought her older daughter water beads for her 6th birthday in 2017.
—Katie Mogg, NBC News, 20 Mar. 2024
After 10 minutes, both liquids beaded on top and without absorbing into the fibers.
—Nor'adila Hepburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Mar. 2024
Between the unbuttoned Tibi vest, latex garters, and beaded Monôt halter that betray a hint of nipple, the actor has been taken a big swings with her fashion.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 14 Mar. 2024
Emily wore a metallic Elie Saab Couture gown with cutout details and beading all over.
—Rebecca Aizin, Peoplemag, 10 Mar. 2024
Noun
Share [Findings] Ostrich-shell beads indicating the onset of the Initial Upper Paleolithic were found to have reached Shuidonggou by 39000 bc, and strontium isotope levels revealed the social exchange of ostrich-shell beads during the Late Quaternary in the Karoo Supergroup.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 24 Apr. 2024
The house, with Mardis Gras beads dangling from the trees and original fireplaces in both front rooms, is as much a part of the experience as hot sauce on an oyster.
—Kathleen Purvis, Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 2024
The straight post accepts different size rings for frustration-free stacking, while the see-through ring with colorful beads helps little ones connect sight to sound.
—Christine Luff, Parents, 22 Apr. 2024
In a past collection beaded details that represented traditional African glass beads usually seen at weddings or royal occasions were seen on pieces.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 17 Apr. 2024
The site contains remains from at least 24 adults and children, stone tools, beads, lip piercings—and the skeleton of a fox, intentionally buried alongside one of the dead.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2024
While the comfortable signature silhouettes remain the same, Simone Rocha’s DNA is infused throughout each style with clusters of pearls, crystals, and beads strategically crafted into the shape of flowers.
—Alexis Bennett Parker, Vogue, 10 Apr. 2024
The actor also captured random images — sand running through his fingers, a bowl of orange beads — that wound up in the movie.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
The family's eldest daughter Luna, 7, also dressed up for the occasion, wearing a sparkly pale pink top and sash, which was embroidered with beads and jewels, as well as a long blue silk skirt.
—Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024
Verb
Geologists were hoping for volcanic rocks, glass beads that form inside fire fountains, and other samples that would shed light on the moon’s youth.
—Rebecca Boyle, Discover Magazine, 23 Apr. 2024
In a past collection beaded details that represented traditional African glass beads usually seen at weddings or royal occasions were seen on pieces.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 17 Apr. 2024
Founded in 2017, the brand offers fun takes on classics like friendship bracelets and beaded necklaces.
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 4 Apr. 2024
In the picture, her husband, Henry Chase Hager, 45, has his arms around Bush Hager, who wore a white shirt and beaded necklace.
—Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2024
Ashley Haugen, a mother of two from San Antonio, bought her older daughter water beads for her 6th birthday in 2017.
—Katie Mogg, NBC News, 20 Mar. 2024
After 10 minutes, both liquids beaded on top and without absorbing into the fibers.
—Nor'adila Hepburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Mar. 2024
Between the unbuttoned Tibi vest, latex garters, and beaded Monôt halter that betray a hint of nipple, the actor has been taken a big swings with her fashion.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 14 Mar. 2024
Emily wore a metallic Elie Saab Couture gown with cutout details and beading all over.
—Rebecca Aizin, Peoplemag, 10 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bead.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near bead
Cite this Entry
“Bead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bead. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bead
1 of 2 noun1
: a small piece of solid material with a hole by which it can be strung on a thread
2
: a small round mass
beads of perspiration
3
: a small knob on a gun used in taking aim
4
: a rim or molding (as on a board or tire) that sticks out
bead
2 of 2 verb1
: to cover with beads or beading
2
: to string together like beads
3
: to form into a bead
beader
noun
Etymology
Noun
Middle English bede "prayer, rosary bead," from Old English bed "prayer"
Word Origin
The beads you might wear around your neck once represented prayers. The Middle English word bede at first meant "a prayer." People then, as now, often kept track of the number and order of a series of prayers with the help of a string of little balls. Because each of these balls stands for a prayer, the word bede came to be used for the balls themselves. Today this same word, now spelled bead, is used to refer to any small piece of material with a hole in it for threading on a string or wire. It has also been used to refer to any small, round object such as a drop of sweat.
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