Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Beam
Beam
(bēm)
, Noun.
[AS.
beám
beam, post, tree, ray of light; akin to OFries. bām
tree, OS. bōm
, D. boom
, OHG. boum
, poum
, G. baum
, Icel. baðmr
, Goth. bagms
and Gr. φῦμα
a growth, φῦναι
to become, to be. Cf. L. radius
staff, rod, spoke of a wheel, beam or ray, and G. strahl
arrow, spoke of a wheel, ray or beam, flash of lightning. √97. See Be
; cf. Boom
a spar.] 1.
Any large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to its thickness, and prepared for use.
2.
One of the principal horizontal timbers of a building or ship.
The
beams
of a vessel are strong pieces of timber stretching across from side to side to support the decks. Totten.
3.
The width of a vessel;
as, one vessel is said to have more
. beam
than another4.
The bar of a balance, from the ends of which the scales are suspended.
The doubtful
beam
long nods from side to side. Pope.
5.
The principal stem or horn of a stag or other deer, which bears the antlers, or branches.
6.
The pole of a carriage.
[Poetic]
Dryden.
7.
A cylinder of wood, making part of a loom, on which weavers wind the warp before weaving; also, the cylinder on which the cloth is rolled, as it is woven; one being called the fore beam, the other the back beam.
8.
The straight part or shank of an anchor.
9.
The main part of a plow, to which the handles and colter are secured, and to the end of which are attached the oxen or horses that draw it.
10.
(Steam Engine)
A heavy iron lever having an oscillating motion on a central axis, one end of which is connected with the piston rod from which it receives motion, and the other with the crank of the wheel shaft; – called also
working beam
or walking beam
. 11.
A ray or collection of parallel rays emitted from the sun or other luminous body;
as, a
. beam
of light, or of heatHow far that little candle throws his
beams
! Shakespeare
12.
(Fig.)
: A ray; a gleam;
as, a
. beam
of comfortMercy with her genial
beam
. Keble.
13.
One of the long feathers in the wing of a hawk; – called also
beam feather
. Abaft the beam
(Naut.)
, in an arc of the horizon between a line that crosses the ship at right angles, or in the direction of her beams, and that point of the compass toward which her stern is directed.
– Beam center
(Mach.)
, the fulcrum or pin on which the working beam of an engine vibrates.
– Beam compass
, an instrument consisting of a rod or beam, having sliding sockets that carry steel or pencil points; – used for drawing or describing large circles.
– Beam engine
, a steam engine having a working beam to transmit power, in distinction from one which has its piston rod attached directly to the crank of the wheel shaft.
– Before the beam
(Naut.)
, in an arc of the horizon included between a line that crosses the ship at right angles and that point of the compass toward which the ship steers.
– On the beam
, in a line with the beams, or at right angles with the keel.
– On the weather beam
, on the side of a ship which faces the wind.
– To be on her beam ends
, to incline, as a vessel, so much on one side that her beams approach a vertical position.
Beam
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Beamed
(bēmd)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Beaming
.] To send forth; to emit; – followed ordinarily by
forth
; as, to
. beam
forth lightBeam
,Verb.
I.
To emit beams of light.
He
beamed
, the daystar of the rising age. Trumbull.
Webster 1828 Edition
Beam
BEAM
,Noun.
1.
The largest, or a principal piece in a building, that lies across the walls, and serves to support the principal rafters.2.
Any large piece of timber, long in proportion to its thickness, and squared, or hewed for use.3.
The part of a balance, from the ends of which the scales are suspended; sometimes used for the whole apparatus for weighing.4.
The part on the head of a stag, which bears the antlers, royals and tops.5.
The pole of a carriage, which runs between the horses.6.
A cylinder of wood, making part of a loom, on which weavers wind the warp before weaving; and this name is given also to the cylinder on which the cloth is rolled,as it is wove.7.
The straight part or shank of an anchor.8.
In ships, a great main cross timber, which holds the sides of a ship from falling together. The beams support the decks and orlops. The main beam is next the mainmast.9.
The main piece of a plow, in which the plow-tails are fixed, and by which it is drawn. 10. Beam compass, an instrument consisting of a square wooden or brass beam, having sliding sockets, that carry steel or pencil points; used for describing large circles, and in large projections for drawing the furniture on wall-dials.
On the beam, in navigation, signified any distance from the ship, on a line with the beams, or at right angles with the keel.
Before the beam, is an arch of the horizon between a line that crosses the ship at right angles, or the line of the beam, and that point of the compass which she steers.
Beam ends. A vessel is said to be on her beam ends, when she inclines so much on one side that her beams approach a vertical position.
Beam-feathers, in falconry, the long feathers of a hawk's wing.