beacon
/ˈbiːk(ə)n
/noun
1A fire or light set up in a high or prominent position as a warning, signal, or celebration: a chain of beacons carried the news her red hair was like a beacon in the night figurative the prospect of a new government was a beacon of hope for millions...
- But amid the feelings of frustration, one piece of positive news shone out like a beacon of hope.
- When I saw the sign of The Dolmen Hotel all lit up it was like a beacon of hope to me.
- That said, Jerome Vareille stood out like a beacon of hope, creating or being on the end of the best of the few chances.
1.1 [often in place names] British A hill suitable for a beacon: Ivinghoe Beacon...
- One of the most wonderful walks I have taken was in the Brecon Beacons, Wales.
1.2A light or other visible object serving as a signal, warning, or guide at sea, on an airfield, etc.Rotating beacons on airfields made their debut in the early 1920s....
- What is the significance, if any, of the color and location of lights / beacons on airliners or any aircraft?
- From the late 1970s, constellations of man-made navigation satellites have taken over as beacons to guide the way.
Synonyms
warning light/fire, signal light/fire, bonfire, smoke signal, beam, signal, danger signal, guiding light;
rocket, flare, Very light;
lighthouse, light tower, pharos, phare, watchtower
1.3A radio transmitter whose signal helps to fix the position of a ship, aircraft, or spacecraft.Similar technology is used to track down lost aircraft and yachts through their radio beacons....
- The news of Corvette 03's shoot down arrived in the JRCC at a busy time; it was a hectic night with numerous reports of aircraft down and emergency beacons being detected.
- Ships, yachts and aircraft carry emergency beacons which are activated when they come into contact with water, sending a signal on a reserved frequency that identifies the vessel and its approximate location.
Origin
Old English bēacn 'sign, portent, ensign', of West Germanic origin; related to beckon.