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 Words From

• bea·con·less adjective
• un·bea·coned 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

South Korea is widely considered a peaceful beacon of democracy in Asia, but that wasn't always the case.

From BBC

Instead, they lit a paraffin lamp in the room near him as a beacon, in case his spirit wished to return to his body.

From BBC

Pulsars—spinning neutron stars left when giant stars blow up in supernova explosions—are well-known astronomical radio beacons.

From Science Magazine

“Princeton was a beacon of joy, lighting up every room he entered with his humor and infectious smile,” she wrote.

From Los Angeles Times

The Inn is a beacon in the restaurant world, with hospitality at its core.

From Salon

Related Words

• flare
• lantern
• radar