bead
bead Lexical Profile
bead Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A small, usually round piece of glass, wood, stone, or plastic pierced for stringing or sewing onto fabric.
"She carefully strung the colorful beads together to make a necklace."
A small, round drop of liquid, such as sweat, moisture, or blood.
"A cold bead of sweat formed on his forehead as he waited for the test results."
The reinforced inner edge of a pneumatic tire that grips the wheel rim.
"The mechanic struggled to get the bead of the stiff tire to seat properly on the metal rim."
• verb
To form into small, round drops of liquid.
"The heavy morning dew began to bead on the freshly waxed hood of the car."
To decorate or cover a surface with small, pierced decorative objects.
"She spent months learning how to bead the intricate patterns on the traditional dress."
• Rhymes for bead
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'bede', meaning 'prayer'. The modern meaning evolved because strings of beads (such as rosaries) were historically used to keep count of prayers.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.