Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

bead       (bēd)  Pronunciation Key  n.   A small, often round piece of material, such as glass, plastic, or wood, that is pierced for stringing or threading. beads A necklace made of such pieces. beads Roman Catholic Church A rosary. Obsolete A prayer. Often used in the plural. A drop of moisture: beads of sweat. A bubble of gas in a liquid. A small metal knob on the muzzle of a firearm, such as a rifle, used for sighting. A decoration consisting of a usually continuous series of small spherical shapes, as on a convex molding. Beading. A small, round object, especially: A drop of moisture: beads of sweat. A bubble of gas in a liquid. A small metal knob on the muzzle of a firearm, such as a rifle, used for sighting. A decoration consisting of a usually continuous series of small spherical shapes, as on a convex molding. Beading. A strip of material, usually wood, with one molded edge placed flush against the inner part of a door or window frame. Architecture A decoration consisting of a usually continuous series of small spherical shapes, as on a convex molding. Beading. A projecting rim or lip, as on a pneumatic tire. A line of continuously applied ductile material, such as solder or caulking compound. Chemistry A globule of fused borax or other flux used in a bead test. tr. & intr.v.   bead·ed, bead·ing, beads To furnish with or collect into beads. [Middle English bede, rosary bead, prayer, from Old English bed, bedu, gebed, prayer; see gwhedh- in Indo-European roots.]

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
bead 

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

bead
noun
1.	a small ball with a hole through the middle
2.	a shape that is spherical and small; "he studied the shapes of low-viscosity drops"; "beads of sweat on his forehead" [syn: drop]
3.	a beaded molding for edging or decorating furniture [syn: beading]
verb
1.	form into beads, as of water or sweat, for example
2.	decorate by sewing beads onto; "bead the wedding gown"
3.	string together like beads

American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

bead

see draw a bead on.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Bead

Bead\, n. [OE. bede prayer, prayer bead, AS. bed, gebed, prayer; akin to D. bede, G. bitte, AS. biddan, to ask, bid, G. bitten to ask, and perh. to Gr. ? to persuade, L. fidere to trust. Beads are used by the Roman Catholics to count their prayers, one bead being dropped down a string every time a prayer is said. Cf. Sp. cuenta bead, fr. contar to count. See Bid, in to bid beads, and Bide.]

1. A prayer. [Obs.]

2. A little perforated ball, to be strung on a thread, and worn for ornament; or used in a rosary for counting prayers, as by Roman Catholics and Mohammedans, whence the phrases to tell beads, to at one's beads, to bid beads, etc., meaning, to be at prayer.

3. Any small globular body; as, (a) A bubble in spirits. (b) A drop of sweat or other liquid. "Cold beads of midnight dew." --Wordsworth. (c) A small knob of metal on a firearm, used for taking aim (whence the expression to draw a bead, for, to take aim). (d) (Arch.) A small molding of rounded surface, the section being usually an arc of a circle. It may be continuous, or broken into short embossments. (e) (Chem.) A glassy drop of molten flux, as borax or microcosmic salt, used as a solvent and color test for several mineral earths and oxides, as of iron, manganese, etc., before the blowpipe; as, the borax bead; the iron bead, etc.

Bead and butt (Carp.), framing in which the panels are flush, having beads stuck or run upon the two edges. --Knight.

Beat mold, a species of fungus or mold, the stems of which consist of single cells loosely jointed together so as to resemble a string of beads. [Written also bead mould.]

Bead tool, a cutting tool, having an edge curved so as to make beads or beading.

Bead tree (Bot.), a tree of the genus Melia, the best known species of which (M. azedarach), has blue flowers which are very fragrant, and berries which are poisonous.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Bead

Bead\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Beading.] To ornament with beads or beading.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Bead

Bead\, v. i. To form beadlike bubbles.