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definitions

sunbeam

[suhn-beem]
See more synonyms for sunbeam on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a beam or ray of sunlight.
  2. Australian Slang. a dish or utensil that has not been used during a meal and so does not have to be washed.

Origin of sunbeam

before 1000; Middle English sunnebem, Old English sun(ne)bēam. See sun, beam
Related formssun·beamed, sun·beam·y, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for sunbeam

flash, glare, sun, radiation, window, lamp, ray, daylight, candle, bulb, glow, star, lantern, sunshine, light, glimmer, radiance, emanation, torch, brilliance

Examples from the Web for sunbeam

Historical Examples of sunbeam

  • The sunbeam had vanished, not only from the page, but from the room.

    Wilfrid Cumbermede

    George MacDonald

  • A sunbeam, escaping from beneath a cloud, gilded the fine drops of water.

  • Fluffy, tell Downy the little story I told you the other day, about the sunbeam.

    Five Mice in a Mouse-trap

    Laura E. Richards

  • The 'Sunbeam' left Macassar on the evening of the 20th of April.

    The Last Voyage

    Lady (Annie Allnutt) Brassey

  • Calling at Trincomalee en route, the 'Sunbeam' next proceeded to Burmah.

    The Last Voyage

    Lady (Annie Allnutt) Brassey

British Dictionary definitions for sunbeam

sunbeam

noun
  1. a beam, ray, or stream of sunlight
  2. Australian slang a piece of crockery or cutlery laid for a meal but remaining unused
Derived Formssunbeamed or sunbeamy, adjective
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 sunbeam
n.

Old English, from sun (n.) + beam (n.).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper