WikiWord

beam

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/biːm/ English

Definitions

noun

  1. Any large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to its thickness, and prepared for use.
  2. One of the principal horizontal timbers of a building; one of the transverse members of a ship's frame on which the decks are laid — supported at the sides by knees in wooden ships and by stringers in steel ones.
  3. The maximum width of a vessel (note that a vessel with a beam of 15 foot can also be said to be 15 foot abeam)“This ship has more beam than that one.”
  4. The crossbar of a mechanical balance, from the ends of which the scales are suspended.

verb

  1. To emit beams of light; shine; radiate.“to beam forth light”
  2. To smile broadly or especially cheerfully.
  3. To furnish or supply with beams
  4. To give the appearance of beams to.

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