beam

beam [bēm]

n.

[ME < OE, a tree, piece of wood, column; akin to Ger baum, Du boom, tree]

1. Obs. the squared-off trunk of a tree

2.

a) a long, thick piece of wood, metal, or stone, used in building

b) such a piece used as a horizontal support for a roof, ceiling, etc.

3. one of the two large rollers of a loom

4. the barlike, horizontal part of a plow, to which the handles, share, etc. are attached

5. the crossbar of a balance; also, occasionally, the balance itself

6. the main shaft of a deer's antler: see BAY ANTLER

7. any of the heavy, horizontal crosspieces of a ship

8. a ship's breadth at its widest point

9. the side of a ship or the direction extending outward on either side at right angles to the fore-and-aft line of a ship, aircraft, etc.

10. Slang the width of the hips

11. Gym. BALANCE BEAM

12. Mech. a lever that is moved back and forth by a piston rod and transmits its motion to the crank, etc. as in some early steam enginesa lever that is moved back and forth by a piston rod and transmits its motion to the crank, etc. as in some early steam engines [orig. transl. of L columna lucis, column of light]

13. a shaft or stream of light or other radiation, as of X-rays or nuclear particles: also used figuratively

14. a radiant look, smile, etc.

15. a stream of radio or radar signals sent continuously in one direction from a landing field, harbor, etc. as a guide for incoming aircraft or ships

vt.

1. to give out (shafts of light); radiate in a beam or beams

2. to direct or aim (a radio signal, program, etc.)

3. to construct (a ceiling) so that the beams are exposed

vi.

1. to shine brightly; be radiant

2. to smile warmly

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beam in one's own eye [after Matt. 7:3, Luke 6:41]

a major moral flaw in oneself which one ignores while criticizing minor faults in others

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off the beam

1. not following the direction of a guiding beam, as an airplane

☆ 2. Informal

a) going in the wrong direction

b) wrong; incorrect

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on the beam

1. in a direction at right angles to the keel of a ship; abeam

2. following the direction of a guiding beam, as an airplane

☆ 3. Informal

a) going in the right direction

b) working or functioning well; alert, keen, quick, etc.