bead
/biːd/ (bre, ipa) · /biːd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbēd/ (ame, mw)
bead — noun
1. a tiny round object, often made from glass, wood, or plastic, with a hole runnin
a tiny round object, often made from glass, wood, or plastic, with a hole running through the middle so you can thread it onto string or wire to make necklaces, bracelets, and similar items.
Leila threaded blue glass beads onto a leather cord to make a bracelet for her sister.
thread + beads onto + [string]
The little wooden beads on the necklace were painted bright red and yellow.
Imani lost a small pearl bead under the sofa while fixing his grandmother's necklace.
The market stall sold cheap plastic beads in every colour you could imagine.
Each prayer was marked by moving one bead along the string.
文法句型
a string of beads
a bead of [material]
用法筆記
Almost always countable and often plural, since beads are typically used in groups on a string or wire.
常見錯誤
2. a tiny round drop of a liquid such as sweat, blood, or water that forms on a sur
a tiny round drop of a liquid such as sweat, blood, or water that forms on a surface and looks like a small ball.
Beads of sweat rolled down Sami's forehead as he carried the heavy boxes upstairs.
beads of sweat — typical collocation
Tiny beads of water clung to the cold glass after Yael poured the iced tea.
beads of water on a surface
A single bead of blood appeared on his thumb where the needle had pricked him.
Morning dew formed silver beads across the green leaves in the garden.
文法句型
beads of sweat / blood / water
用法筆記
Almost always followed by 'of + liquid noun' (sweat, blood, water, dew, oil). Rarely used without specifying the liquid.
常見錯誤
3. a narrow rounded strip running along the edge of wooden furniture, doors, or pan
a narrow rounded strip running along the edge of wooden furniture, doors, or panels as decoration; also called beading.
The carpenter ran a smooth wooden bead along the edge of the bookshelf for a finished look.
carpentry register
A delicate bead of carved oak framed each panel of the antique cabinet door.
Old houses often have a fine bead running around the picture rails in every room.
Mr. Anaya sanded the bead on the drawer front before applying the dark stain.
- molding
American spelling; broader term covering many decorative wood strips, not only rounded ones
用法筆記
Specialist term used in carpentry and joinery. Outside that field, learners are unlikely to meet this sense.
bead — verb
1. to sew or fix small beads onto a piece of clothing, fabric, or jewellery in orde
to sew or fix small beads onto a piece of clothing, fabric, or jewellery in order to decorate it.
Yael spent two weeks beading the wedding dress by hand with tiny silver pearls.
transitive: bead + [garment]
The artist beaded the leather bag with bright patterns inspired by her grandmother's work.
Local crafters bead these handbags one stitch at a time, so each piece is unique.
Tova was beading a small purse to give her aunt for her birthday.
文法句型
bead + [object]
用法筆記
Object is usually a piece of clothing, accessory, or fabric. Frequently passive: 'the dress was beaded with…'.
2. to join a row of small objects together in a line, in the way that beads are arr
to join a row of small objects together in a line, in the way that beads are arranged on a single string.
The children beaded dried berries together to hang on the kitchen window for the birds.
literary use: bead + [items] + together
Sami carefully beaded small shells along a cotton thread to make a wind chime.
The old lights were beaded along the roof of the porch, glowing softly in the dark.
Tiny lanterns were beaded across the garden path for the summer party.
文法句型
bead + [objects] + together
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense focuses on arranging items in a line, not on adding bead decoration to a single surface.
3. (of liquid such as sweat or water) to gather into small round drops on a surface
(of liquid such as sweat or water) to gather into small round drops on a surface rather than spread out into a thin layer.
Sweat began to bead on Imani's forehead as he ran the last mile uphill.
intransitive: [liquid] + bead + on + [surface]
Rain beaded on the freshly waxed roof of the red car in the driveway.
Tiny drops of water were beading across the cold bottle of lemonade.
Dew beaded on the spider's web in the soft morning light.
- form droplets
longer phrase with the same meaning; more neutral and descriptive
- condense
scientific; refers to gas turning into liquid, not just gathering into drops
- spread
to flow out into a thin even layer, the opposite of forming round drops
文法句型
[liquid] + bead + on/across + [surface]
用法筆記
Subject must be a liquid (sweat, water, rain, dew, oil). Almost always followed by 'on' or 'across' plus a surface.