any of various relatively long pieces of metal, wood, stone, etc., manufactured or shaped esp. for use as rigid members or parts of structures or machines.

Building Trades . a horizontal bearing member, as a joist or lintel.

Engineering . a rigid member or structure supported at each end, subject to bending stresses from a direction perpendicular to its length.

Nautical .

a horizontal structural member, usually transverse, for supporting the decks and flats of a vessel.

the extreme width of a vessel.

the shank of an anchor.

Aeronautics . the direction perpendicular to the plane of symmetry of an aircraft and outward from the side.

the widest part.

Slang . the measure across both hips or buttocks

broad in the beam.

Machinery .

walking beam.

(in a loom) a roller or cylinder on which the warp is wound before weaving.

a similar cylinder on which cloth is wound as it is woven.

the crossbar of a balance, from the ends of which the scales or pans are suspended.

a ray of light

The sun shed its beams upon the vineyard.

a group of nearly parallel rays.

Radio, Aeronautics . a signal transmitted along a narrow course, used to guide pilots through darkness, bad weather, etc.

Electronics . a narrow stream of electrons, as that emitted from the electron gun of a cathode ray tube.

the angle at which a microphone or loudspeaker functions best.

the cone-shaped range of effective use of a microphone or loudspeaker.

Citizens Band Radio Slang . beam antenna.

a gleam; suggestion

a beam of hope.

a radiant smile.

the principal stem of the antler of a deer.

to emit in or as in beams or rays.

Radio . to transmit (a signal) in a particular direction.

Radio and Television . to direct (a program, commercial message, etc.) to a predetermined audience.

to emit beams, as of light.

to smile radiantly or happily. ?

beam in

Citizens Band Radio Slang . to be received under optimum conditions; be heard loud and clear

They told me I was really beaming in.

fly the beam, Radio

Aeronautics . (of an aircraft) to be guided by a beam.

off the beam

not on the course indicated by a radio beam.

Informal . wrong; incorrect

The pollsters were off the beam again for the last presidential election.

on the beam

on the course indicated by a radio beam, as an airplane.

Nautical . at right angles to the keel.

Informal . proceeding well; correct; exact

Their research is right on the beam and the results should be very valuable.

verb

frown , scowl , be dark

noun

axle , bail , balk , bolster , boom , brace , cantilever , column , crossbar , crosspiece , girder , jamb , joist , lath , lintel , pile , piling , pillar , plank , pole , post , prop , rafter , reach , scaffolding , scantling , shaft , sill , spar , stanchion , stay , stringer , strip , strut , stud , timber , transverse , trestle , two-by-fournotes:ray is distinguished from beam in that it describes a smaller quantity of light (beam being a collection of parallel rays) , bar , beacon , chink , dartle , emission , finger , flicker , glare , gleam , glimmer , glint , glitter , glow , laser , radiation , ray , shimmer , shoot , sparkle , streak , stream , twinklenotes:ray is distinguished from beam in that it describes a smaller quantity of light (beam being a collection of parallel rays)

verb

emit , give off , give out , glare , glimmer , glow , radiate , send , shed , shine , throw off , transmitnotes:ray is distinguished from beam in that it describes a smaller quantity of light (beam being a collection of parallel rays) , gleam , grin , laugh , smirknotes:ray is distinguished from beam in that it describes a smaller quantity of light (beam being a collection of parallel rays) , burn , glitter , yieldnotes:ray is distinguished from beam in that it describes a smaller quantity of light (beam being a collection of parallel rays) , send out , transfer file , transmit , transmit signalnotes:ray is distinguished from beam in that it describes a smaller quantity of light (beam being a collection of parallel rays) , blaze , incandesce , bar , chevron , flash , girder , glisten , joist , laser , light , rafter , ray , scintillate , smile , stud , support