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bead noun 1 a small and usually round ball made of glass or stone, etc strung with others, eg in a necklace. 2 (beads) a string of beads worn as jewellery, or one used when praying (a rosary). 3 a small drop of liquid • beads of sweat. 4 beading. 5 the front sight of a gun. verb (beaded, beading) to decorate something with beads or beading. beaded adj. draw a bead on something colloq to aim a gun at it. tell one's beads to pray using a rosary.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon bed in obsolete sense 'a prayer', from biddan to pray.
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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
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