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beady

[bee-dee]
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adjective, bead·i·er, bead·i·est.
  1. beadlike; small, globular, and glittering: beady eyes.
  2. covered with or full of beads.
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Origin of beady

First recorded in 1820–30; bead + -y1
Related formsbead·i·ly, adverbbead·i·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for beady

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • His weapons had been indeed removed, and the marshal was looking at him with beady eyes.

  • The beach plum and bayberry bushes on the dunes were spangled with beady drops.

    Keziah Coffin

    Joseph C. Lincoln

  • The beady eyes vanished and reappeared, and they considered me impassively.

    The Strolling Saint

    Raphael Sabatini

  • Sautee shook his head; his beady, black eyes glowed, and he stroked his chin.

    The Coyote

    James Roberts

  • Inside the hole, he saw a single rat, staring at him with beady eyes.

    Anything You Can Do ...

    Gordon Randall Garrett

British Dictionary definitions for beady

beady

adjective beadier or beadiest
  1. small, round, and glittering: used esp of eyes
  2. resembling or covered with beads
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Derived Formsbeadily, adverbbeadiness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for beady

adj.

in reference to eyes, 1826, from bead (n.) + -y (2). Related: Beadily; beadiness.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper