noun Uncommon

bead

BEED

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Bead (noun) means a small, often round piece of glass, wood, or plastic with a hole through it, used for jewellery or decoration. Example: “She strung wooden beads onto a leather cord.”

noun

A small, often round piece of glass, wood, or plastic with a hole through it, used for jewellery or decoration.

"She strung wooden beads onto a leather cord."

"The dress was covered in tiny glass beads."

A small drop of liquid, such as sweat or condensation.

"Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he worked."

One of the small balls on a rosary, used for counting prayers.

"She fingered her prayer beads while reciting the rosary."

How to use bead

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA small decorative ball with a hole through it, or more generally, any tiny round drop or object.

Common mistake

The phrase "draw a bead on" (to take aim) comes from the small bead-shaped sight at the end of a gun barrel, not from jewellery.

Common pairings

string of beads beads of sweat draw a bead on

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: beads
Third person singular: beads
Past tense: beaded

Test yourself on “bead” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She strung wooden _____ onto a leather cord.

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.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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drop pearl beading beadwork astragal

Related words

include fall lower increase lose drop spend fell

Rhymes for bead

head read lead dead mead bread plead tread ahead dread knead stead

See all rhymes for 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.

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