bead

bead [bēd]

n.

[ME bede, prayer, prayer bead < OE bed < biddan, to pray, ask: see BID¹]

1. a small, usually round piece of glass, wood, metal, etc., pierced for stringing

2. [pl.] ROSARY (sense 1a)

3. [pl.] a string of beads; necklace

4. any small, round object, as the sight at the muzzle end of a gun barrel

5. a drop or bubble [beads of sweat]

6.

a) a bubble in an effervescing liquid

b) foam or a head, as on beer

7. a globule of metal, as gold or silver, obtained by refining in a cupel

8. the liplike region around a pneumatic tire that seals to the rim

9. Archit.

a) a narrow, half-round molding

b) a molding composed of small rounded ornaments, like a string of beads

10. Chem. a beadlike mass usually formed inside the loop of a platinum wire by the action of a flux, such as borax, upon the oxide or salt of certain metals: used in identifying metals in their compounds, since the metal determines the color of the bead

vt.

1. to decorate or string with beads or beading

2. to string like beads

vi.

to form a bead or beads

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☆ draw a bead on

to take careful aim at

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say one's beads or tell one's beads or count one's beads

to pray with a rosary

beaded

adj.