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more about beam
beam |
7 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Beam \Beam\, n. [AS. be['a]m beam, post tree, ray of light; akin to OFries b[=a]m tree, OS b?m, D. boom, OHG. boum, poum, G. baum, Icel. ba?mr, Goth. bahms and Gr ? a growth, ? to become to be Cf L. radius staff, rod, spoke of a wheel, beam or ray, and G. strahl arrow, spoke of a wheel, ray or beam, flash of lightning. ?97. See {Be}; cf {Boom} a spar.] 1. Any large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to its thickness, and prepared for use 2. One of the principal horizontal timbers of a building or ship. The beams of a vessel are strong pieces of timber stretching across from side to side to support the decks. --Totten. 3. The width of a vessel; as one vessel is said to have more beam than another. 4. The bar of a balance, from the ends of which the scales are suspended. The doubtful beam long nods from side to side --Pope. 5. The principal stem or horn of a stag or other deer, which bears the antlers, or branches. 6. The pole of a carriage. [Poetic] --Dryden. 7. A cylinder of wood, making part of a loom, on which weavers wind the warp before weaving; also the cylinder on which the cloth is rolled, as it is woven; one being called the fore beam, the other the back beam. 8. The straight part or shank of an anchor. 9. The main part of a plow, to which the handles and colter are secured, and to the end of which are attached the oxen or horses that draw it 10. (Steam Engine) A heavy iron lever having an oscillating motion on a central axis, one end of which is connected with the piston rod from which it receives motion, and the other with the crank of the wheel shaft; -- called also {working beam} or {walking beam}. 11. A ray or collection of parallel rays emitted from the sun or other luminous body; as a beam of light, or of heat. How far that little candle throws his beams ! --Shak. 12. Fig.: A ray; a gleam; as a beam of comfort. Mercy with her genial beam. --Keble. 13. One of the long feathers in the wing of a hawk; -- called also {beam feather}. {Abaft the beam} (Naut.), in an arc of the horizon between a line that crosses the ship at right angles, or in the direction of her beams, and that point of the compass toward which her stern is directed. {Beam center} (Mach.), the fulcrum or pin on which the working beam of an engine vibrates. {Beam compass}, an instrument consisting of a rod or beam, having sliding sockets that carry steel or pencil points; -- used for drawing or describing large circles. {Beam engine}, a steam engine having a working beam to transmit power, in distinction from one which has its piston rod attached directly to the crank of the wheel shaft. {Before the beam} (Naut.), in an arc of the horizon included between a line that crosses the ship at right angles and that point of the compass toward which the ship steers. {On the beam}, in a line with the beams, or at right angled with the keel. {On the weather beam}, on the side of a ship which faces the wind. {To be on her beam ends}, to incline, as a vessel, so much on one side that her beams approach a vertical position. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Beam \Beam\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Beamed} (?); p. pr & vb n. {Beaming}.] To send forth; to emit; -- followed ordinarily by forth; as to beam forth light. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Beam \Beam\, v. i. To emit beams of light. He beamed, the daystar of the rising age. --Trumbull. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: beam n 1: a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides pilots in darkness or bad weather [syn: {radio beam}] 2: long thick piece of wood or metal or concrete, etc., used in construction 3: a group of nearly parallel lines of electromagnetic radiation 4: a column of light (as from a beacon) [syn: {beam of light}, {light beam}, {ray}, {ray of light}, {shaft}, {shaft of light}] 5: breadth amidships 6: used by women gymnasts [syn: {balance beam}] v 1: smile radiantly; express joy through one's facial expression 2: emit light; be bright, as of the sun or a light; "The sun shone bright that day"; "the fire beamed on their faces" [syn: {shine}] 3: express with a beaming face or smile: "he beamed his approval" 4: broadcast over the airwaves, as in radio or television; "We cannot air this X-rated song" [syn: {air}, {send}, {broadcast}, {transmit}] 5: esp. of the complexion: show a strong bright color, such as red or pink; "Her face glowed when she came out of the sauna" [syn: {glow}, {radiate}, {shine}] 6: experience a feeling of well-being or happiness, as from good health or an intense emotion; "She was beaming with joy"; "Her face radiated with happiness" [syn: {glow}, {radiate}, {shine}] From Jargon File (4.2.3, 23 NOV 2000) [jargon]: beam vt [from Star Trek Classic's "Beam me up Scotty!"] 1. To transfer {softcopy} of a file electronically; most often in combining forms such as `beam me a copy' or `beam that over to his site'. 2. Palm Pilot users very commonly use this term for the act of exchanging bits via the infrared links on their machines (this term seems to have originated with the ill-fated Newton Message Pad). Compare {blast}, {snarf}, {BLT}. From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (13 Mar 01) [foldoc]: beam [Star Trek Classic's "Beam me up Scotty!"] To transfer {softcopy} of a file electronically; most often in combining forms such as "beam me a copy" or "beam that over to his site". Compare {blast}, {snarf}, {BLT}. [{Jargon File}] From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]: Beam occurs in the Authorized Version as the rendering of various Hebrew words In 1 Sam. 17:7, it means a weaver's frame or principal beam; in Hab. 2:11, a crossbeam or girder; 2 Kings 6:2, 5, a cross-piece or rafter of a house; 1 Kings 7:6, an architectural ornament as a projecting step or moulding; Ezek. 41:25, a thick plank. In the New Testament the word occurs only in Matt. 7:3, 4, 5, and Luke 6:41, 42, where it means (Gr. dokos) a large piece of wood used for building purposes, as contrasted with mote" (Gr. karphos), a small piece or mere splinter. Mote" and beam" became proverbial for little and great faults.
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