From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishbeambeam1 /biːm/ ●●○ noun [countable] 1 LIGHT a) LIGHTa line of light shining from the sun, a lamp etc the beam of a powerful flashlight b) TPa line of light, energy etc that you cannot see a laser beam2 WOOD/METALTBCa long heavy piece of wood or metal used in building houses, bridges etc3 SMILESMILEa wide happy smile a beam of delight4 → off beam5 SPORTDSOa balance beam6 TTW technical the widest part of a ship from side to side → broad in the beam at broad1(11)
Examples from the Corpus
beam• The following day Paula's body was found hanging from a beam in the garage.• a 55-ton concrete beam• Maggie stumbled across the field with only a narrow beam of light from her flashlight to help her.• Q.. My ceiling has painted beams that intersect at several crossing points.• He thought about hanging himself from the roof beam, but lacked the resolve.• The Commission will, of course, have a spy beam on our conversation.• Using handholds in the wood to steady herself, she crept back along the beam, hauling Simon along with her.• Break the beam and it shoots you.• Her head hit the beam and she slid down and hit her shoulder.• We could see the beams of searchlights scanning the sky.beambeam2 ●○○ verb 1 [intransitive]SMILE to smile very happily Sherman looked at his sons and beamed proudly.beam with Connie beamed with pleasure.beam at McLeish beamed at her.2 [transitive always + adverb/preposition]TCB to send a radio or television signal through the air, especially to somewhere very distant the first sports broadcast to be beamed across the Atlantic3 [intransitive, transitive]TPSEND to send out a line of light, heat, energy etc The sun beamed through the clouds.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
beam• The fans cheered, and the athletes beamed.• Even Sabina was pleased, and Gabby was beaming.• Her parents stood there beaming as she went up to receive the prize.• After the song was over, Miss Timms beamed at the class.• The water sparkled and the sun beamed brightly.• The images are beamed directly from a satellite.• Once we have landed on Mars we will be able to beam it to the galaxy, he said.• Beam me out of here!• The curtains opened again and Uncle Philip stood next to his doll, beaming proudly.• At the celebration, he beamed proudly.• Ralph nodded, beamed, situated his hat.• Farther down the line, 13-year-old Anne Fischer of Northridge beamed with excitement.• Just a short time before, they had been beaming with optimism.• They mug for cameras, hug their parents, and beam with pride.• Daddy sat in the first pew, beaming with pride. 