beam

Pronunciation

• IPA: /bi:m/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

Noun

Singular beam

Plural beams

1. (countable) A beam is a line of light or energy.

   A beam of sunlight came through the window making a rectangle on the floor.

2. (countable) A beam is a long straight piece of wood or metal used in building to support weight.

   Inside, the ceiling of the tunnel was held up with beams and was high enough that we could stand.

• 

  a laser beam

• 

  a steel beam

Verb

Plain form beam

Third-person singular beams

Past tense beamed

Past participle beamed

Present participle beaming

1. (transitive) If you beam a signal from one place to another, you send it through the air.
2. (intransitive) If you beam, you smile and look very happy.