Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for beacon on Thesaurus.com a guiding or warning signal, as a light or fire, especially one in an elevated position. a tower or hill used for such purposes. a lighthouse, signal buoy, etc., on a shore or at a dangerous area at sea to warn and guide vessels. Navigation radio beacon .a radar device at a fixed location that, upon receiving a radar pulse, transmits a reply pulse that enables the original sender to determine his or her position relative to the fixed location. a person, act, or thing that warns or guides. a person or thing that illuminates or inspires: The Bible has been our beacon during this trouble. Digital Technology web beacon .Show More
to serve as a beacon to; warn or guide. to furnish or mark with beacons: a ship assigned to beacon the shoals. Show More
verb (used without object) to serve or shine as a beacon: A steady light beaconed from the shore. Show More
Origin of beacon before 950; Middle English beken, Old English bēacen sign, signal; cognate with Old Frisian bāken, Old Saxon bōkan, Old High German bouhhan
Related forms bea·con·less , adjective un·bea·coned , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for beaconing shepherd ,
govern ,
drive ,
escort ,
herd ,
educate ,
manage ,
handle ,
maneuver ,
oversee ,
navigate ,
influence ,
instruct ,
see ,
train ,
usher ,
supervise ,
accompany ,
teach ,
regulate Examples from the Web for beaconing Historical Examples of beaconing The light of a great love shone out of the wonderful deeps of them, beaconing the way clear into the haven of her heart.
My heart cleaved the eternity of separation, beaconing my sad return to them, and I followed gladly, hope being not yet dead.
They hold and send forth the beaconing flash from every intellectual and loving light-house in the world.
British Dictionary definitions for beaconing a signal fire or light on a hill, tower, etc, esp one used formerly as a warning of invasion a hill on which such fires were lit a lighthouse, signalling buoy, etc, used to warn or guide ships in dangerous waters short for radio beacon a radio or other signal marking a flight course in air navigation short for Belisha beacon a person or thing that serves as a guide, inspiration, or warning a stone set by a surveyor to mark a corner or line of a site boundary, etc Show More
to guide or warn (intr) to shine Show More
Word Origin for beacon Old English beacen sign; related to Old Frisian bāken , Old Saxon bōcan , Old High German bouhhan
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for beaconing n. Old English beacen "sign, portent, lighthouse," from West Germanic *baukna "beacon, signal" (cf. Old Frisian baken , Old Saxon bokan , Old High German bouhhan ); not found outside Germanic. Perhaps borrowed from Latin bucina "a crooked horn or trumpet, signal horn." But more likely from PIE *bhew- , a variant of the base *bha- "to gleam, shine" (see phantasm ). Figurative use from c.1600.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
