bead|ing /biː d I ŋ/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Beading is a narrow strip of wood that is used for decorating or edging furniture and doors.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Beading is an arrangement of beads used for decorating clothes. □ …a black velvet bodice with jet black beading.
beady /biː di/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Beady eyes are small, round, and bright.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] If someone keeps a beady eye on a person or organization, they watch them carefully and suspiciously. □ The chairman keeps a beady eye on things.
bea|gle /biː g ə l/ (beagles ) N‑COUNT A beagle is a short-haired black and brown dog with long ears and short legs. It is kept as a pet or sometimes used for hunting.
beak /biː k/ (beaks ) N‑COUNT A bird's beak is the hard curved or pointed part of its mouth. □ …a black bird with a yellow beak.
beak|er /biː kə r / (beakers )
1 N‑COUNT A beaker is a plastic cup used for drinking, usually one with no handle. [BRIT ]
2 N‑COUNT A beaker is a large cup or glass. [AM ]
3 N‑COUNT A beaker is a glass or plastic jar which is used in chemistry.
be -all and e nd-all PHRASE If something is the be-all and end-all to you, it is the only important thing in your life, or the only important feature of a particular activity. □ For some people, competing is the be-all and end-all of their running.
beam /biː m/ (beams , beaming , beamed )
1 VERB If you say that someone is beaming , you mean that they have a big smile on their face because they are happy, pleased, or proud about something. [WRITTEN ] □ [V + at/with ] Frances beamed at her friend with undisguised admiration. □ [V with quote] 'Welcome back,' she beamed. □ [V -ing] …the beaming face of a 41-year-old man on the brink of achieving his dreams.
2 N‑COUNT [usu n N ] A beam is a line of energy, radiation, or particles sent in a particular direction. □ …high-energy laser beams. □ [+ of ] …a beam of neutrons.
3 VERB If something beams radio signals or television pictures or they are beamed somewhere, they are sent there by means of electronic equipment. □ [be V -ed prep/adv] The interview was beamed live across the state. □ [V prep/adv] The live satellite broadcast was beamed into homes across America. □ [V n prep/adv] …a ship which is due to begin beaming radio broadcasts to South East Asia.
4 N‑COUNT [n N ] A beam of light is a line of light that shines from an object such as a lamp.
5 VERB If something such as the sun or a lamp beams down, it sends light to a place and shines on it. □ [V adv/prep] A sharp white spot-light beamed down on a small stage. □ [V adv/prep] All you see of the outside world is the sunlight beaming through the cracks in the roof.
6 N‑COUNT A beam is a long thick bar of wood, metal, or concrete, especially one used to support the roof of a building. □ The ceilings are supported by oak beams.
7 → see also off-beam
bean ◆◇◇ /biː n/ (beans )
1 N‑COUNT [usu pl, usu adj N ] Beans such as green beans , French beans , or broad beans are the seeds of a climbing plant or the long thin cases which contain those seeds.
2 N‑COUNT [usu pl, usu n N ] Beans such as soya beans and kidney beans are the dried seeds of a bean plant.
3 N‑COUNT [usu pl, usu n N ] Beans such as coffee beans or cocoa beans are the seeds of plants that are used to produce coffee, cocoa, and chocolate.
4 PHRASE If someone is full of beans , they are very lively and have a lot of energy and enthusiasm. □ Jem was full of beans after a long sleep.
5 PHRASE If you spill the beans , you tell someone something that people have been trying to keep secret.
6 → see also baked beans
bea n bag (bean bags ) also beanbag N‑COUNT A bean bag is a large round cushion filled with tiny pieces of plastic or rubber. It takes the shape of your body when you sit on it.
bea n coun|ter (bean counters ) also bean-counter N‑COUNT You can describe people such as accountants and business managers as bean counters if you disapprove of them because you think they are only interested in money. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …bean counters who tend to focus on controlling expenses.
bea n curd N‑UNCOUNT Bean curd is a soft white or brown food made from soya beans.
bean|feast /biː nfiːst/ (beanfeasts ) N‑COUNT A beanfeast is a party or other social event. [BRIT , INFORMAL ]
bean|pole /biː npoʊl/ (beanpoles ) N‑COUNT If you call someone a beanpole , you are criticizing them because you think that they are extremely tall and thin. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]
bea n sprout (bean sprouts ) also beansprout N‑COUNT Bean sprouts are small, long, thin shoots grown from beans. They are frequently used in Chinese cookery.
bear
➊ VERB USES
➋ NOUN USES
➊ bear ◆◆◇ /beə r / (bears , bearing , bore , borne )
→ Please look at categories 19 to 24 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 VERB If you bear something somewhere, you carry it there or take it there. [LITERARY ] □ [V n adv/prep] They bore the oblong hardwood box into the kitchen and put it on the table. ● -bearing COMB □ …food-bearing lorries.
2 VERB If you bear something such as a weapon, you hold it or carry it with you. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] …the constitutional right to bear arms. ● -bearing COMB □ …rifle-bearing soldiers. □ …hundreds of flag-bearing marchers.