beacon

¹

[bee-kuhn]

noun

1. a guiding or warning signal, as a light or fire, especially one in an elevated position.

   Synonyms: balefire, pharos, buoy, beam

2. a tower or hill used for such purposes.

3. a lighthouse, signal buoy, etc., on a shore or at a dangerous area at sea to warn and guide vessels.

4. Navigation.

   1. radio beacon.

   2. a radar device at a fixed location that, upon receiving a radar pulse, transmits a reply pulse that enables the original sender to determine their position relative to the fixed location.

5. a person, act, or thing that warns or guides.

6. a person or thing that illuminates or inspires.

   The Bible has been our beacon during this trouble.

7. Digital Technology.

   1. web beacon.

   2. a low-energy radio transmitter at a specific location within a store, museum, office space, etc., which identifies nearby mobile devices in order to send them location-specific messages or collect location-specific data.

      There must be a beacon in the luggage aisle because I just got a coupon for this suitcase on my phone.

verb (used with object)

1. to serve as a beacon to; warn or guide.

2. to furnish or mark with beacons.

   a ship assigned to beacon the shoals.

verb (used without object)

1. to serve or shine as a beacon.

   A steady light beaconed from the shore.

Beacon

²

[bee-kuhn]

noun

1. a city in SE New York.

beacon

/ ˈbiːkən /

noun

1. a signal fire or light on a hill, tower, etc, esp one used formerly as a warning of invasion

2. a hill on which such fires were lit

3. a lighthouse, signalling buoy, etc, used to warn or guide ships in dangerous waters

4. short for radio beacon

5. a radio or other signal marking a flight course in air navigation

6. short for Belisha beacon

7. a person or thing that serves as a guide, inspiration, or warning

8. a stone set by a surveyor to mark a corner or line of a site boundary, etc

verb

1. to guide or warn

2. (intr) to shine

Other Word Forms

• beaconless adjective
• unbeaconed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of beacon¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English beken, Old English bēacen “sign, signal”; cognate with Old Frisian bāken, Old Saxon bōkan, Old High German bouhhan

Word History and Origins

Origin of beacon¹

Old English beacen sign; related to Old Frisian bāken , Old Saxon bōcan , Old High German bouhhan

Example Sentences

Their statement added: "Islington is a proud beacon of tolerance and diversity that welcomes people from all over the world."

From BBC

"Some fans would mention some things like that and expressed slight concern. However, for the most part, everyone was very supportive of me going there, being sent to be a beacon of light."

From BBC

It's also among the region's poorest states - though it's often held up as a beacon of democracy among its neighbours.

From BBC

Santa Monica, long a beacon of economic strength in Southern California, has endured its share of struggles in recent years.

From Los Angeles Times

"The monastery's property is being seized and expropriated. This spiritual beacon of Orthodoxy and Hellenism is now facing an existential threat," he said in a statement.

From BBC

Related Words

• flare 
• lantern 
• radar