noun
beam
BEEM
noun
1
A long, sturdy length of wood, steel, or concrete used to support a structure such as a floor, roof, or ship deck.
"The old barn was held up by oak beams a century old."
"Engineers checked whether the steel beam could bear the extra load."
2
A ray or narrow stream of light.
"A beam of sunlight cut through the curtains."
"The lighthouse beam swept across the dark water."
3
A wide, happy smile.
"She greeted us with a beam that lit up her whole face."
verb
1
To smile broadly and happily.
"He beamed with pride as his daughter crossed the stage."
2
To send out light, or to transmit signals or data wirelessly.
"The satellite beams the signal down to receivers on the ground."
How to Use Beam
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA supporting length of material, a ray of light, or a big happy smile — the verb can mean to smile, shine, or transmit a signal.
Common pairings
a wooden beam
a beam of light
beam with pride
beam a signal
Word Forms
beamed past tense, beams plural, beams singular
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The old barn was held up by oak _____ a century old.
Etymology
From Old English bēam, which originally meant "tree" or "piece of wood" — the sense survives in words like "boom" (a ship's spar) and in some plant names.