bead meaning

• Noun: bead  beed
  1. A small ball with a hole through the middle 
  2. A shape that is spherical and small
     "beads of sweat on his forehead"
     - drop, pearl 
  3. A beaded moulding for edging or decorating furniture
     - beading, beadwork, astragal
  Verb: bead  beed
  1. Form into beads, as of water or sweat, for example 
  2. Decorate by sewing beads onto
     "bead the wedding gown" 
  3. String together like beads

  Derived forms: beads, beading, beaded

  See also: beady

  Type of: adorn, beautify, decorate, draw, embellish, form, grace, jewellery [Brit, Cdn], jewelry [N. Amer], molding [N. Amer], moulding [Brit, Cdn], ornament, sphere, string, thread

  Encyclopedia: Bead

• 
  [Architecture]
  1.

  A bead molding.

  2.

  A narrow wood strip, molded on one edge, against which a door or window sash closes; a stop bead.

  3.

  A strip of metal or wood used around the periphery of a pane of glass to secure it in a frame, ventilator, or sash; a stop

  4.

  A pearl-shaped carved decoration on moldings or other ornaments, usually in series, or in conjunction with other shapes; a beading. Also see bead and reel molding.

  5.

  A molding decorated with beading; an astragal, 1 or chaplet.

  6.

  Used in combination with other terms to describe the function or position of a beaded molding, such as quirk bead, angle bead, corner bead, etc.

  7.

  The act of carving or running a bead; beading.

  8.

  In metal roofing or flashing, the shape formed by folding a narrow strip of the edge flat or rolling it into a tube in order to stiffen or fasten the metal.

  9.

  A factory-formed light-gauge metal strip having one or two expanded or short perforated flanges and variously shaped noses; used at the perimeter of plastered surface as a casing bead or plaster stop, and at corners to reinforce the edge.

  10.

  A hardened drop of excess paint or varnish.

  11.

  A narrow, convex strip of sealant, such as caulking or glazing compound.

  12.

  A weld bead.

• bead and reel, reel and bead:    [Architecture]A se ...
• draft bead, deep bead, sill bead, ventilating bead, window bead:    [Architecture]A sm ...
• bead and butt, bead butt, bead butt work:    [Architecture]Fram ...

Examples

1. beads of pain broke out on her forehead.
2. the child had a little necklace on of gold beads.
3. his face was covered with beads of sweat.
4. metal and glass beads may be removed by irrigation.
5. glass bead gels need not be hydrated prior to use.