1
a
: a long piece of heavy often squared timber suitable for use in construction
b
weaving
: a wood or metal cylinder in a loom on which the warp (see warp entry 1 sense 1a) is wound
c
: the part of a plow to which handles, standard, and coulter are attached
d
: the bar of a balance from which scales hang
f
nautical
: the extreme width of a ship at the widest part
g
engines
: an oscillating lever on a central axis receiving motion at one end from an engine connecting rod and transmitting it at the other
2
a
: a ray or shaft of light
beams from the searchlights
b
: a collection of nearly parallel rays (such as X-rays) or a stream of particles (such as electrons)
c
: a constant directional radio signal transmitted for the guidance of pilots
also
: the course indicated by a radio beam
3
: the main stem of a deer's antler
4
: the width of the buttocks
… immensely broad in the beam …—
Ann Bridge
Ann Bridge
beamed; beaming; beams
1
: to emit in beams or as a beam (see beam entry 1 sense 2)
The sun beamed its light through the window.
2
: to support with beams (see beam entry 1 sense 1)
The house was beamed with heavy timbers.
3
a
: to transmit especially by satellite : broadcast
… the 90-minute show was beamed to more than 200 countries and territories around the world.—TV Guide
TV Guide
b
: to transmit (data) electronically
beaming images of the planet back to Earth
The amount of data beamed over fiber-optic networks is rising exponentially every year, yet only 0.1% of fiber capacity is in use.—Leslie Cauley
Leslie Cauley
especially
: to transmit (data) wirelessly
Infrared connectivity enables users to work collaboratively on documents without having to log on to the network, and for quickly "beaming" data between different devices (for example, between two notebooks, or between a notebook and a printer, without a need for a cable). —Newsweek
Newsweek
c
: to direct to a particular audience
a commercial beamed at middle-class voters
1
: to send out rays of light
Sunlight beamed through the window.
2
: to smile with joy
The bride was beaming.
Examples of beam in a Sentence
Noun
a bright beam of light
We saw the beams from their flashlights.
the building's steel support beams
Verb
She beamed as she told us the good news.
They stood beaming with satisfaction.
“We're getting married!” he beamed.
The sun beamed its light through the window.
Pictures of the distant planet were beamed back to the Earth.
Recent Examples on the WebErin Clack, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024
Toward the end of its run, employees began to notice that the beams holding the roof up began to move further apart.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024
Depending on the type of building, retrofit fixes include adding such supporting elements as steel frames or beams, installing new concrete walls or repairing vulnerable welds.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
All eyes were on Charm City early Tuesday morning after a cargo ship crashed into a support beam of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
—Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 28 Mar. 2024
Sun beams burst through cloud wisps, gilding everything in bright, sparkling light: cobalt water, white crags, kelly green moss.
—Sophie Yun Mancini, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Mar. 2024
Arkansas managed only four scores of 9.9 or better on the day, with three of them coming on the balance beam.
—Tom Murphy, arkansasonline.com, 24 Mar. 2024
The bridge collapsed into Baltimore Harbor early Tuesday morning after a cargo ship struck one of its support beams.
—Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 28 Mar. 2024
In May 1980, the M/V Summit Venture freighter struck a support beam on the Skyway Bridge causing a major collapse that left 35 people dead.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2024
Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 8 Apr. 2024
The resort’s restaurants and bars will pull in more business, and the Trump name will be beamed around the world on television and the internet.
—Eric Lipton, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
This subsystem bundles the information collected by the probe before it is beamed back to the mission team.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 26 Mar. 2024
In one, Turlington and Burns, a model as well as a student at New York University, take twinning to the max, both beaming in all-white looks featuring the white sneaker.
—Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024
On Friday, under a sky in which clouds swam and floated, but a clear shade of blue predominated, a warm sun beamed upon the city.
—Martin Weil, Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2024
Its namesake co-owner, Yolanda Crowder, beams from behind the counter as folks pack in the cozy quarters inside.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 29 Mar. 2024
These images, beamed back to Earth by JWST, reveal the universe’s vast beauty on a scale that seems only the giant IMAX screen can begin to convey.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Mechagodzilla, a metallic super-weapon beamed down from space by aliens who look like extras from Planet of the Apes, turned out to be more successful, and has been revived by both Toho and Legendary in subsequent films.
—Katie Rife, EW.com, 28 Mar. 2024
Noun
Ree's vision included Spanish ranch elements — such as arched doorways and exposed wood ceiling beams — as well as a charcoal, blue and rust palette, with pops of yellow, throughout the house.
—Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024
Toward the end of its run, employees began to notice that the beams holding the roof up began to move further apart.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024
Depending on the type of building, retrofit fixes include adding such supporting elements as steel frames or beams, installing new concrete walls or repairing vulnerable welds.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
All eyes were on Charm City early Tuesday morning after a cargo ship crashed into a support beam of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
—Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 28 Mar. 2024
Sun beams burst through cloud wisps, gilding everything in bright, sparkling light: cobalt water, white crags, kelly green moss.
—Sophie Yun Mancini, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Mar. 2024
Arkansas managed only four scores of 9.9 or better on the day, with three of them coming on the balance beam.
—Tom Murphy, arkansasonline.com, 24 Mar. 2024
The bridge collapsed into Baltimore Harbor early Tuesday morning after a cargo ship struck one of its support beams.
—Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 28 Mar. 2024
In May 1980, the M/V Summit Venture freighter struck a support beam on the Skyway Bridge causing a major collapse that left 35 people dead.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2024
Verb
Proud parents Kirk and Tammy Franklin are beaming right now because their son, Caziah Franklin, just announced his engagement.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 8 Apr. 2024
The resort’s restaurants and bars will pull in more business, and the Trump name will be beamed around the world on television and the internet.
—Eric Lipton, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
This subsystem bundles the information collected by the probe before it is beamed back to the mission team.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 26 Mar. 2024
In one, Turlington and Burns, a model as well as a student at New York University, take twinning to the max, both beaming in all-white looks featuring the white sneaker.
—Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024
On Friday, under a sky in which clouds swam and floated, but a clear shade of blue predominated, a warm sun beamed upon the city.
—Martin Weil, Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2024
Its namesake co-owner, Yolanda Crowder, beams from behind the counter as folks pack in the cozy quarters inside.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 29 Mar. 2024
These images, beamed back to Earth by JWST, reveal the universe’s vast beauty on a scale that seems only the giant IMAX screen can begin to convey.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Mechagodzilla, a metallic super-weapon beamed down from space by aliens who look like extras from Planet of the Apes, turned out to be more successful, and has been revived by both Toho and Legendary in subsequent films.
—Katie Rife, EW.com, 28 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'beam.' 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 beam
Cite this Entry
“Beam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beam. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
beam
1 of 2 noun1
: a long heavy piece of timber or metal used especially as a main horizontal support of a building or ship
2
: the bar of a balance from which scales hang
3
: the width of a ship at its widest part
4
a
: a ray of light
b
: a collection of nearly parallel rays (as X-rays) or a stream of particles (as electrons)
5
: a constant radio signal sent out to guide pilots along a course
beam
2 of 2 verbMedical Definition
beam
noun1
: a ray or shaft of light
2
: a collection of nearly parallel rays (as X-rays) or a stream of particles (as electrons)
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