bead

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   Prayer, later especially with a rosary.

   • That he must believe in the Pope;—go to Mass;—cross himself;—tell his beads;—be a good Catholick, and that this, in all conscience, was enough to carry him to heaven.
2. 2

   Each in a string of small balls making up the rosary or paternoster.

   • Holonym: prayer beads
3. 3

   A small, round object.

4. ›+ 7 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      A ridge, band, or molding.

   2. 5

      A glassy drop of molten flux, as borax or microcosmic salt, used as a solvent and color…

      A glassy drop of molten flux, as borax or microcosmic salt, used as a solvent and color test for several mineral earths and oxides, as of iron, manganese, etc., before the blowpipe.

      • the borax bead;  the iron bead, etc.
   3. 6

      A decorative, convex, rounded profile (often a half-circle) cut into an edge or surface…

      A decorative, convex, rounded profile (often a half-circle) cut into an edge or surface of wood, typically defined by a narrow, deep channel called a quirk.

   4. 7

      To form into a bead.

      • The raindrops beaded on the car's waxed finish.
   5. 8

      To apply beads to.

      • She spent the morning beading the gown.
   6. 9

      To cause beads to form on (something).

      • Only the hum of the miserable creatures stirred the heavy murk that beaded our foreheads with sweat as we pushed our way through it.
   7. 10

      Acronym of Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment.

The neighborhood

• neighborhair pipesmall, round, pierced object