bead
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.”
How to use bead
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small decorative ball with a hole through it, or more generally, any tiny round drop or object.
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.
Word forms
beaded past tense, beads plural, beads singular
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.
Related words
Rhymes for bead
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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