Definition

1. Noun:

   • A long, sturdy piece of wood, metal, or concrete used in construction: A horizontal or angled structural member that supports weight, such as in a building or bridge.
   • A ray or line of light or other radiation: A concentrated stream of light, particles, or energy emitted from a source.
   • The width of a ship at its widest point: (Nautical) The breadth of a vessel.
   • A radiant smile or expression: A look on someone's face showing great happiness.
   • A directional radio or radar signal: A focused transmission used for guidance or communication.

2. Verb:

   • To smile radiantly: To express great happiness with a broad, bright smile.
   • To emit light or other radiation: To send out rays of light, energy, or particles.
   • To transmit (a signal, program, etc.): To broadcast or send out via radio, television, or other electronic means.
   • To express (an emotion) with a beaming face: To show a feeling, such as approval or joy, through a radiant expression.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The wooden beam supports the ceiling. (The long piece of wood holds up the ceiling.)
  • A beam of sunlight came through the window. (A ray of sunlight entered through the window.)
  • The ship has a beam of 30 feet. (The ship is 30 feet wide at its broadest part.)
  • Her face broke into a happy beam. (Her face showed a radiant smile of happiness.)

• Verb:

  • She beamed with pride at her son's graduation. (She smiled radiantly with pride at her son's graduation.)
  • The lighthouse beamed a warning signal across the bay. (The lighthouse sent out a warning light across the bay.)
  • The radio station beams its signal to the entire region. (The radio station transmits its signal across the whole area.)
  • He beamed his congratulations to the team. (He expressed his congratulations with a beaming smile.)

Advanced Usage

• "On the beam": (Idiomatic) Accurate, correct, or on course.

  • Your analysis of the problem is right on the beam. (Your analysis of the problem is exactly correct.)

• "Off the beam": (Idiomatic) Incorrect, mistaken, or off course.

  • His theory about the cause is completely off the beam. (His theory about the cause is entirely wrong.)

• "To kick the beam": (Idiomatic) To be very light in weight; to be of little importance or consequence.

  • When compared to the other issues, that concern kicks the beam. (When compared to the other issues, that concern is insignificant.)

Variants and Related Words

• Beaming (adj): Radiantly smiling or shining.
  • She gave a beaming smile to the audience.
• Beamy (adj): (Of a ship) Having a broad beam; (of light) consisting of or emitting beams.
  • The beamy ship was very stable in the water.
• Laser beam (n): A highly focused and coherent beam of light produced by a laser.
  • The surgeon used a laser beam for the precise operation.

Synonyms

• Noun (structural): Joist, girder, rafter, support.
• Noun (light): Ray, shaft, streak, gleam.
• Verb (smile): Grin, smile broadly, radiate.
• Verb (emit): Shine, radiate, emit, gleam.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Beam down: To transmit (a signal) to a location on Earth from a satellite or spacecraft; (Science Fiction) to transport someone to a planet's surface.
  • The data was beamed down from the satellite.
  • In the story, the crew beamed down to the alien planet.
• Beam up: (Science Fiction) To transport someone from a planet's surface to a spacecraft.
  • The captain ordered the away team to be beamed up immediately.

Related Idioms

• A beam in one's eye: A fault that is greater in oneself than in the person one is criticizing. (From the biblical proverb about noticing a speck in another's eye while ignoring a plank/beam in one's own.)
  • He's always criticizing others for being late, which is a real beam in his own eye.
• Broad in the beam: (Informal, humorous) Having wide hips or a large bottom.
  • After years at a desk job, he's become a bit broad in the beam.

Noun

1. a gymnastic apparatus used by women gymnasts
2. the broad side of a ship
   • they sighted land on the port beam
3. (nautical) breadth amidships
4. a column of light (as from a beacon)
5. a group of nearly parallel lines of electromagnetic radiation
6. long thick piece of wood or metal or concrete, etc., used in construction
7. a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather

Verb

1. 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
2. have a complexion with a strong bright color, such as red or pink
   • Her face glowed when she came out of the sauna
3. broadcast over the airwaves, as in radio or television
   • We cannot air this X-rated song
4. express with a beaming face or smile
   • he beamed his approval
5. emit light; be bright, as of the sun or a light
   • The sun shone bright that day
   • The fire beamed on their faces
6. smile radiantly; express joy through one's facial expression