Words / B2

BEEM/biːm/

A beam is a long structural bar, or a line of light: a steel beam; a beam of light. As a verb it can mean to smile widely. Girder is a heavy engineering twin. A cracked beam closed a sports hall. Do not mix with bean.

Meaning

A long strong piece of wood or metal in a building; also a line of light.

Examples

• “A cracked beam closed the sports hall until engineers reported.”
• “A beam of torchlight found the exit, which is the light sense.”

Good to know

a steel / wooden beam; a beam of light. Verb: beam (smile). Engineering twin: girder. Mix-up: bean. H&S closures. Physics: a beam of particles.

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