bead

1 of 2

noun

ˈbēd 

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)

3

beads plural

a

: rosary

b

: a necklace of beads or pearls

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

bead

2 of 2

verb

beaded; beading; beads

transitive verb

1

: to furnish, adorn, or cover with beads or beading

2

: to string together like beads

intransitive verb

: 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.

Synonyms

Noun

• blob
• driblet
• drip
• drop
• droplet
• glob
• globule

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

Noun

Had Williams paid more attention, modern scholars might very well call the effect Williams’ drops instead of Baily’s beads. —Yaakov Zinberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024

The figures, including an outsized Mama Odie, sporting a colorful abundance of beads, are among the most lifelike in Disney’s arsenal. —Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024

Connection And Joy All of that media bluster around total solar eclipses fades to nothing as the last beads of sunlight disappear through the moon’s valleys, and the world around you darkens dramatically in just a few stunning seconds. —Jamie Carter, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024

The slippers, adorned with sequins and glass beads, were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in the late actor’s hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, nearly 20 years ago and their whereabouts remained a mystery until the FBI recovered them in 2018. —Steve Karnowski, Fortune, 18 Mar. 2024

The festival beads and toe rings on the runways last season certainly portended the return of the mid-aughts aesthetic, even if the ready-to-wear then didn’t tell the same story. —José Criales-Unzueta, Vogue, 15 Mar. 2024

All food and wine was included; any extras were paid for with beads. —Tony Perrottet, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Mar. 2024

Her hair is styled in a braided look, with red and white beads at the ends of her bangs. —Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 21 Mar. 2024

While some objects were made locally, others had a more distant origin, such as glass beads from Iran and a bronze bucket, possibly from Ireland. —Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2024

Verb

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

The front of the top has what appears to be beaded chains over a sheer fabric that just barely frees the nipple. —Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 12 Mar. 2024

Emily Ratajkowski, for example, wore a directional Jacquemus bridal look, Cardi B was swathed in inky Atelier Versace spring 2003 lace, Kylie Jenner came dripping in blood-red Ludovic de Saint Sernin beads, and Kim Kardashian showed that simple is often the most impactful in pearlescent Balenciaga. —Alice Newbold, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2024

The site also boasted musket parts and 1,200 pieces of lead shot—mostly hunting ammunition—as well as stone and glass beads that colonists likely traded with Native Americans. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024

Similar stories played out with other forms of money, such as wampum beads. —Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024

A touch of sparkle came from the black rhinestones beaded waistline on her dress, as well as De Beers jewelry. —Jackie Fields, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English bede prayer, prayer bead, from Old English bed, gebed prayer; akin to Old English biddan to entreat, pray — more at bid entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1577, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing bead

• draw a bead on

Kids Definition

bead

1 of 2 noun

ˈbēd 

1

: 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 verb

1

: 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.