Definition

1. Noun:
   • A game of chance: "beano" refers to a game, often played for entertainment or fundraising, where numbered balls are randomly drawn and players mark the corresponding numbers on pre-printed cards.
   • (British, informal, dated) A festive celebration or party: Historically, "beano" was British slang for a lively party or feast, often one provided by an employer for workers.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Game):
  • The community center hosts a beano every Friday night.
  • She won a small prize at the church beano.
• Noun (Celebration):
  • The annual office beano was always a raucous affair. (This usage is now rare.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "beano" for the game is largely synonymous with and has been almost entirely replaced by the name "bingo" in modern English. "Beano" is now considered an archaic or historical term for this activity.
• When referring to the celebration, "beano" is informal, dated, and primarily found in historical contexts or older literature.

Variants and Related Words

• Bingo (n): The modern and overwhelmingly more common name for the game described.
• Bean-feast (n): The original term from which the celebratory sense of "beano" was derived, meaning a festive annual dinner given by employers.

Synonyms

• Bingo: (for the game)
• Party, feast, jamboree: (for the celebratory sense)

Related Idioms

• No specific idioms are commonly formed with "beano" due to its dated and specialized nature.

Noun

1. a game in which numbered balls are drawn at random and players cover the corresponding numbers on their cards