beach

¹

[ beech ]

noun

1. an expanse of sand or pebbles along a shore.
2. the part of the shore of an ocean, sea, large river, lake, etc., washed by the tide or waves.

   Synonyms: littoral, strand, seashore, coast

3. the area adjacent to a seashore:

   We're vacationing at the beach.

verb (used with object)

1. Nautical. to haul or run onto a beach:

   We beached the ship to save it.

2. to make inoperative or unemployed.

   Synonyms: ground

Beach

²

[ beech ]

noun

1. Alfred Ely, 1826–96, U.S. editor, publisher, and inventor.
2. Amy Marcey Cheney [mahr, -see], 1867–1944, U.S. composer and pianist.
3. Moses Yale, 1800–68, U.S. newspaper publisher.
4. Rex El·ling·wood [el, -ing-w, oo, d], 1877–1949, U.S. novelist and short-story writer.
5. Sylvia Woodbridge, 1887–1962, U.S. bookseller and publisher in France.

beach

/ biːtʃ /

noun

1. an extensive area of sand or shingle sloping down to a sea or lake, esp the area between the high- and low-water marks on a seacoast littoral

verb

1. to run or haul (a boat) onto a beach

beach

/ bēch /

1. The area of accumulated sand, stone, or gravel deposited along a shore by the action of waves and tides. Beaches usually slope gently toward the body of water they border and have a concave shape. They extend landward from the low water line to the point where there is a distinct change in material (as in a line of vegetation) or in land features (as in a cliff).

Other Words From

• beachless adjective
• un·beached adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of beach¹

First recorded in 1525–35; of obscure origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of beach¹

C16: perhaps related to Old English bæce river, beck ²

Synonym Study

See shore ¹.

Related Words

• coast
• shore
• waterfront