<p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>any of various relatively long pieces of metal, wood, stone, etc., manufactured or shaped especially for use as rigid members or parts of structures or machines.</li><li>a horizontal bearing member, as a joist or lintel.</li><li>a rigid member or structure supported at each end, subject to bending stresses from a direction perpendicular to its length.</li><li>a horizontal structural member, usually transverse, for supporting the decks and flats of a vessel.</li><li>the extreme width of a vessel.</li><li>the shank of an anchor.</li><li>the direction perpendicular to the plane of symmetry of an aircraft and outward from the side.</li><li>the widest part.</li><li>the measure across both hips or buttocks: broad in the beam.</li><li>walking beam.</li><li>a roller or cylinder on which the warp is wound before weaving.</li><li>a similar cylinder on which cloth is wound as it is woven.</li><li>the crossbar of a balance, from the ends of which the scales or pans are suspended.</li><li>a ray of light: The sun shed its beams upon the vineyard.</li><li>a group of nearly parallel rays.</li><li>a signal transmitted along a narrow course, used to guide pilots through darkness, bad weather, etc.</li><li>a narrow stream of electrons, as that emitted from the electron gun of a cathode ray tube.</li><li>the angle at which a microphone or loudspeaker functions best.</li><li>the cone-shaped range of effective use of a microphone or loudspeaker.</li><li>beam antenna.</li><li>a gleam; suggestion: a beam of hope.</li><li>a radiant smile.</li><li>the principal stem of the antler of a deer.</li></ul><p><strong>Verb (used with object)</strong></p><ul><li>to emit in or as in beams or rays.</li><li>to transmit (a signal) in a particular direction.</li><li>to direct (a program, commercial message, etc.) to a predetermined audience.</li></ul><p><strong>Verb (used without object)</strong></p><ul><li>to emit beams, as of light.</li><li>to smile radiantly or happily.</li></ul>