GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 3 definitions

1.       
   Beam , n. [AS. beám beam, post, tree, ray of light; akin to OFries. bām tree, OS. bōm, D. boom, OHG. boum, poum, G. baum, Icel. baðmr, Goth. bagms and Gr. φῦμα a growth, φῦναι 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.]
   Any large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to its thickness, and prepared for use.
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   One of the principal horizontal timbers of a building or ship.
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   The beams of a vessel are strong pieces of timber stretching across from side to side to support the decks.
   Totten.
   
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   The width of a vessel; as, one vessel is said to have more beam than another.
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   The bar of a balance, from the ends of which the scales are suspended.
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   The doubtful beam long nods from side to side.
   Pope.
   
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   The principal stem or horn of a stag or other deer, which bears the antlers, or branches.
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   The pole of a carriage. [Poetic]
   Dryden.
   
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   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.
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   The straight part or shank of an anchor.
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   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.
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   (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.
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   A ray or collection of parallel rays emitted from the sun or other luminous body; as, a beam of light, or of heat.
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   How far that little candle throws his beams!
   Shak.
   
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   (Fig.): A ray; a gleam; as, a beam of comfort.
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   Mercy with her genial beam.
   Keble.
   
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   One of the long feathers in the wing of a hawk; -- called also beam feather.
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   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 angles 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.
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2.       
   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.
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3.       
   Beam, v. i. To emit beams of light.
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   He beamed, the daystar of the rising age.
   Trumbull.
   
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