Bead

Etymology
From gebed:, from. Cognate with Dutch bede:, German Gebet:.

Noun

 * 1)  Prayer, later especially with a rosary.
 * 2) * 1760, Laurence Sterne, The Life & Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, Penguin 2003, p. 115:
 * That he must believe in the Pope;—go to Mass;—cross himself;—tell his beads;—be a good Catholick, and that this, in all conscience, was enough to carry him to heaven.
 * 1) Each in a string of small balls making up the rosary or paternoster.
 * 2) A small round object
 * 3) A small round object with a hole to allow it to be threaded on a cord or wire.
 * 4) A small drop of water or other liquid.
 * beads of sweat
 * 1) A small round ball at the end of a barrel of a gun used for aiming.
 * She drew a bead on the target and fired.
 * 1) A ridge, band, or molding.
 * 2) A rigid edge of a tire that mounts it on a wheel; tire bead.
 * 3) A knowledge sufficient to direct one's activities to a purpose.
 * We now have a bead on the main technical issues for the project.

Derived terms

 * anal beads


 * beady
 * draw a bead on

Verb

 * 1)  To form into a bead.
 * The raindrops beaded on the car's waxed finish.
 * 1)  To apply beads to.
 * She spent the morning beading the gown.
 * 1)  To form into a bead.

Thesaurus
anklet, armlet, ball, balloon, bangle, beads, bejewel, beribbon, bespangle, bijou, bracelet, breastpin, brooch, chain, chaplet, charm, chatelaine, circle, conglobulate, coronet, crown, dewdrop, diadem, diamond, drop, droplet, earring, engrave, feather, figure, filigree, flag, flounce, flower, fob, garland, gem, globe, illuminate, jewel, locket, mushroom, necklace, nose ring, paint, pearl, pin, plume, precious stone, raindrop, rhinestone, ribbon, ring, snowball, spangle, sphere, spherify, stickpin, stone, teardrop, tiara, tinsel, torque, wampum, wreathe, wristband, wristlet