bead
5 synonyms for bead, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A small, often round piece of glass, wood, or plastic with a hole through it, used for jewellery or decoration.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use bead
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
string of beads
beads of sweat
draw a bead on
Etymology
From Old English "bed," meaning "prayer," since strings of beads were originally used to count prayers — the object eventually took the name of the act it helped track.
Full origin of bead →Frequently asked questions
What does “bead” mean?
The word “bead” means a small, often round piece of glass, wood, or plastic with a hole through it, used for jewellery or decoration. In plain terms, a small decorative ball with a hole through it, or more generally, any tiny round drop or object.
How do you pronounce “bead”?
“Bead” is pronounced BEED (/ˈbiːd/ in IPA).
How do you use “bead” in a sentence?
Here is “bead” used in a sentence: “She strung wooden beads onto a leather cord.”
What part of speech is “bead”?
“Bead” is a noun.
Where does the word “bead” come from?
The word “bead” comes from Old English. From Old English "bed," meaning "prayer," since strings of beads were originally used to count prayers — the object eventually took the name of the act it helped track.
Is “bead” a common word?
“Bead” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “bead” have?
“Bead” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small, often round piece of glass, wood, or plastic with a hole through it, used for jewellery or decoration.
