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

“He’s a beacon of light for everyone around him.”

From Los Angeles Times

"Mr. Kennedy will restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency, to end the Chronic Disease epidemic, and to Make America Great and Healthy Again!"

From Salon

He took a similarly methodical approach to dismantling the notion that the United States should continue to be a beacon for immigrants.

From Salon

In the midst of despair the local population are understandably searching for beacons of hope, for example the remarkable story of what happened at the Whitby English language school.

From BBC

“Off-screen, Tony was cherished as a mentor, a friend, and a beacon of kindness and wisdom,” Goldberg’s company said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• flare
• lantern
• radar