bead

Definitions

1. 1noun

   A prayer.

2. 2noun

   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. 3noun

   Any small globular body

4. 4noun

   A bubble in spirits.

5. 5noun

   A drop of sweat or other liquid.

6. 6noun

   A small knob of metal on a firearm, used for taking aim (whence the expression to draw a bead, for, to take aim).

7. 7noun

   A small molding of rounded surface, the section being usually an arc of a circle. It may be continuous, or broken into short embossments.

8. 8noun

   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.

9. 9transitive verb

   To ornament with beads or beading.

10. 10intransitive verb

    To form beadlike bubbles.

11. 11noun

    a small ball with a hole through the middle

12. 12noun

    a beaded molding for edging or decorating furniture

    Synonyms

    astragalbeadingbeadwork
13. 13noun

    a shape that is spherical and small

    "he studied the shapes of low-viscosity drops"

    "beads of sweat on his forehead"

    Synonyms

    droppearl
14. 14verb

    string together like beads

15. 15verb

    decorate by sewing beads onto

    "bead the wedding gown"

16. 16verb

    form into beads, as of water or sweat, for example