| 释义 |
beam
I. \ˈbēm\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English beem, from Old English bēam tree, beam; akin to Old High German boum tree, Old Norse bathmr, Gothic bagms, and perhaps to Greek phyma growth, phyein to bring forth — more at be
1.
a. obsolete : a sizable metal bar
b. : a long piece of heavy often squared timber suitable for use in house construction
c.
(1) : a large cylinder of wood or metal on which yarns comprising a warp are wound before weaving or warp knitting or on which woven or knitted cloth is wound as it is made
(2) : a hand-weaving loom part over which warp yarns travel up and forward during the weaving process
d. : the part of a plow to which handles, standard, and colter are attached and by which the implement is drawn — see plow illustration
e. : the crossbar of a balance from the ends of which scales or weights are suspended; sometimes : the whole balance
f. obsolete : the shaft of a chariot
g. : a structural member (as an iron girder) usually supported at the two ends that is laid horizontally to bear a load and brace a frame : a horizontal supporting span (as between opposite foundation walls of a building)
h.
(1) : a horizontal structural member supporting the deck of a ship and aiding in holding her sides in place — see ship illustration
(2) : the extreme width of the hull of a ship including projecting structures : the widest part of a ship; also : the maximum width of a seaplane float or hull measured between the chines — see ship illustration
(3) : the side of a ship : the direction outward from the side
i. : a lever having an oscillating motion on a central axis and connected at one end with an engine piston rod from which it receives motion and at the other with the crank or its equivalent
j. : a sloping board or frame upon which hides are worked in tanning
k. : a long structural member not supported everywhere along its length and subject to the force of flexure (as a rod resting on supports at the ends and bearing a weight at the center) : spar, boom, lever
2.
a. : a light ray : a radiating line (as of light or color)
< how far that little candle throws his beams — Shakespeare >
: a shaft of light rays from a lamp
< the beams from the searchlights >
b. : a collection of nearly parallel rays (as of light or X rays) or of particles (as electrons)
c. : glance
d. : a gleam or other emanation or manifestation
e.
(1) : a directional radio signal transmitted in quadrants from a radio range station audible as a continuous tone or whine as long as an aircraft proceeds directly on the proper course but audible as dot-dash or dash-dot as it veers to left or right
(2) : the exact course indicated by a radio beam
f.
(1) : stream of electrons in a vacuum tube flowing from an emitting electrode to a collecting electrode
(2) : a directed flow of a radio signal in space
g. : the zone in which a microphone or loudspeaker functions best
3. : the main stem of a deer's antler
4. : the width of the buttocks : rump
< a massive woman, much taller than her husband and immensely broad in the beam — Ann Bridge >
•
- abaft the beam
- before the beam
- off the beam
- on the beam
- the beam in one's own eye
II. verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
Etymology: Middle English beemen, from beem, n.
transitive verb
1. : to send out, radiate, or project in beams or as a beam
2.
a. : to wind (warp yarn or cloth) on a beam
b. : to dress or work (hides) on a beam
3. : to equip or support with beams
< a root beamed with heavy timbers >
4.
a. : to aim (a broadcast) by directional antennas
< programs beamed at Britain >
b. : to aim (sound) from a loudspeaker
c. : to direct (a broadcast) to a particular audience
< a program beamed to women >
: address special attention to
< a sales campaign beamed at sportsmen >
intransitive verb
1. : to send out beams of light
< the sun beaming overhead >
2. : to smile broadly or blandly with unreserved satisfaction, pleasure, or joy
< beaming with good nature — R.L.Stevenson >
III. adjective
Etymology: beam (I)
1. : moving toward or directed at a ship's beam
< a beam sea >
< a beam wind >
2. : relating to wave transmission in a fairly well-defined beam as distinguished from substantially uniform transmission in all directions
< beam antenna > |