BEAD

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does bead mean? 

• BEAD (noun)
  The noun BEAD has 3 senses:

1. a small ball with a hole through the middle

2. a shape that is spherical and small

3. a beaded molding for edging or decorating furniture

  Familiarity information: BEAD used as a noun is uncommon.

• BEAD (verb)
  The verb BEAD has 3 senses:

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

2. decorate by sewing beads onto

3. string together like beads

  Familiarity information: BEAD used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BEAD (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A small ball with a hole through the middle

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("bead" is a kind of...):

jewellery; jewelry (an adornment (as a bracelet or ring or necklace) made of precious metals and set with gems (or imitation gems))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "bead"):

bugle (a tubular glass or plastic bead sewn onto clothing for decoration)

Derivation:

bead (string together like beads)

bead (decorate by sewing beads onto)

beady (covered with beads or jewels or sequins)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A shape that is spherical and small

Classified under:

Nouns denoting two and three dimensional shapes

Synonyms:

bead; drop; pearl

Context example:

beads of sweat on his forehead

Hypernyms ("bead" is a kind of...):

sphere (a solid figure bounded by a spherical surface (including the space it encloses))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "bead"):

dewdrop (a drop of dew)

teardrop (anything shaped like a falling drop (as a pendant gem on an earring))

Derivation:

bead (form into beads, as of water or sweat, for example)

beady (small and round and shiny like a shiny bead or button)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A beaded molding for edging or decorating furniture

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

astragal; bead; beading; beadwork

Hypernyms ("bead" is a kind of...):

molding; moulding (a decorative strip used for ornamentation or finishing)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "bead"):

bead and quirk; quirk bead (beading formed with a narrow groove separating it from the surface it decorates)

• BEAD (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they bead    ... he / she / it beads   
Past simple: beaded   
Past participle: beaded   
-ing form: beading   

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Hypernyms (to "bead" is one way to...):

form (assume a form or shape)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP

Derivation:

bead (a shape that is spherical and small)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Decorate by sewing beads onto

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Context example:

bead the wedding gown

Hypernyms (to "bead" is one way to...):

adorn; beautify; decorate; embellish; grace; ornament (make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

bead (a small ball with a hole through the middle)

Sense 3

Meaning:

String together like beads

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "bead" is one way to...):

draw; string; thread (thread on or as if on a string)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

bead (a small ball with a hole through the middle)

 Context examples 

Gp100 DNA is coated onto microscopic gold beads and used to immunize animals and generate polyclonal antibodies that specifically recognize gp100 antigen.

(gp100 cDNA/Gold Complex, NCI Thesaurus)

An embolic bead that, in addition to blocking blood flow, also releases a chemotherapeutic drug.

(Drug-eluting Embolic Bead, NCI Thesaurus)

A sustained-release drug delivery embolization system containing small polymeric beads impregnated with the anthracycline antibiotic idarubicin with potential antineoplastic activity.

(Idarubicin-Eluting Beads, NCI Thesaurus)

The Immune Monitoring Shared Resource provides support to Cancer Center investigators in Immune status evaluation techniques including autoMACS magnetic bead cell separation, cell proliferation assays, cytokine assays, leukocyte subset C217.

(Immune Monitoring Shared Resource, NCI Thesaurus)

The beads consist of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) microspheres modified with sulfonic acid groups and loaded with doxorubicin.

(Doxorubicin-Eluting Beads, NCI Thesaurus)

A dosing unit equal to the amount of active ingredient(s) contained in a bead.

(Bead Dosing Unit, NCI Thesaurus)

“Look at that young lady with the white beads round her head,” whispered Catherine, detaching her friend from James.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

An embolic bead that is made from a substance that will be removed from the body over time, causing a temporary blockage of blood flow.

(Bioresorbable Embolic Bead, NCI Thesaurus)

Sometimes, the anticancer drugs are attached to small beads that are injected into an artery that feeds the tumor.

(Chemoembolization, NCI Dictionary)

Tiny beads that hold the radioisotope yttrium Y 90 are injected into the hepatic artery (the main blood vessel that carries blood to the liver).

(Intra-arterial brachytherapy, NCI Dictionary)