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Slang dictionary results for beta

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• beta
  beta

  noun

  the second letter of the Greek alphabet (β, B).
• Beta
  Beta

  noun

  (foll by the genitive case of a specified constellation) a star in a constellation, usually the second brightest

beta

American  

[bey-tuh, bee-] / ˈbeɪ tə, ˈbi- /

noun

1. the second letter of the Greek alphabet (β, B).

2. the consonant sound represented by the second letter of the Greek alphabet.

3. Astronomy. Beta, a star that is usually the second brightest of a constellation.

   The second brightest star in Taurus is Beta Tauri.

4. Chemistry.

   1. one of the possible positions of an atom or group in a compound.

   2. one of two or more isomeric compounds.

5. the second of any series, as in chemistry or physics.

6. Computers. the phase of hardware or software development in which a product is tested in the environment for which it was designed.

   Our newest product, currently in beta with new features being added regularly, is perfect for busy professionals who need to organize their calendars.

7. Also called beta coefficient.  Also called beta line.  Stock Exchange. an arbitrary measure of the volatility of a given stock using an index of the volatility of the market as a whole.

   A beta of 1.1 indicates a stock that is 10 percent more volatile than the market.

8. Trademark. Beta, a brand of tape format for VCR tape, incompatible with other formats.

9. Chiefly British. a grade showing that a student is in the middle or second of three scholastic sections in a class.

10. beta male.

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adjective

1. Computers. being, relating to, or undergoing the phase of product development in which a product is tested in the environment for which it was designed.

   The beta version of the new game, featuring a four-player mode, will be unveiled next month.

2. 1. (of an animal) having the second-highest rank in a dominance hierarchy.

      the beta female in a pack of meerkats.

   2. Slang: Sometimes Disparaging. being or relating to a man who is perceived to be weak, mild-mannered, and unimpressive.

beta ¹ British  

/ ˈbiːtə /

noun

1. the second letter in the Greek alphabet (Β, β), a consonant, transliterated as b

2. the second highest grade or mark, as in an examination

3. (modifier)

   1. involving or relating to electrons

      beta emitter

   2. relating to one of two or more allotropes or crystal structures of a solid

      beta iron

   3. relating to one of two or more isomeric forms of a chemical compound

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Beta ² British  

/ ˈbiːtə /

noun

1. (foll by the genitive case of a specified constellation) a star in a constellation, usually the second brightest

   Beta Persei

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Etymology

Origin of beta

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Latin, from Greek bêta, from Phoenician bt “house,” also the name of the second letter of the Phoenician alphabet; cf. beth

Explanation

Beta is the second letter of the Greek alphabet. It also refers to a preliminary model of software or hardware that's being tested but is not quite a finished product. The Greek letter beta, β, is used in several fields, including statistics, physics, finance, and geometry, to represent different things. Because it's the second letter in the Greek alphabet, right after alpha, it's often used to mean "secondary" or "second in order" — as in a "beta particle," the second type of radiation discovered by Ernest Rutherford. In technology, a beta version of software is in the secondary testing phase, when it's a nearly complete prototype. A company may let some people use the beta version to help work out some kinks before releasing the final version.

Example Sentences

They also noted that the beta — which measures volatility in comparison to the wider market — of value and growth have swapped places, mainly driven by Big Tech and the artificial-intelligence industry.

From MarketWatch • May 26, 2026

The REDUCE-AMI trial, published in 2024, also found no significant reduction in death or another heart attack among patients with preserved heart function who received beta blockers after myocardial infarction.

From Science Daily • May 25, 2026

According to the investigators, more than 80 percent of patients with uncomplicated myocardial infarction are currently sent home on beta blockers.

From Science Daily • May 25, 2026

That means kids can drop the numerous extracurricular activities, maintain less than straight-A grades and even set their own schedules, Rachel Wolfe writes in her look at the new era of the beta mom.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 2026

“But you seem so unhappy, beta? Ma finished softly. “So unhappy.”

From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon