Definition of "bead" in English

noun

1. (archaic) Prayer, later especially with a rosary.

2. Each in a string of small balls making up the rosary or paternoster.

   • Holonym: prayer beads

3. A small, round object.

4. A ridge, band, or molding.

5. (physical chemistry, dated) 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.

   • the borax bead;  the iron bead, etc.

verb

1. To form into a bead.

   • The raindrops beaded on the car's waxed finish.

2. (transitive) To apply beads to.

   • She spent the morning beading the gown.

3. (transitive) To form into a bead.

   • He beaded some solder for the ends of the wire.

4. (transitive) To cause beads to form on (something).