■ noun
1》 a small, rounded piece of glass, stone, plastic, etc., perforated and typically threaded in a string with others to make a necklace or rosary.
2》 a drop of a liquid on a surface.
3》 a small knob forming the foresight of a gun.
4》 the reinforced inner edge of a tyre.
5》 an ornamental plaster moulding resembling a string of ~s or having a semicircular cross section.
■ verb
1》 decorate or cover with ~s.
2》 form into a string like ~s.
Phrases
draw (or get ) a ~ on informal, chiefly N. Amer. take aim at with a gun.
Derivatives
~ed adjective
~ing noun
Origin
OE gebed 'prayer', of Gmc origin; current senses derive from the use of a rosary (each ~ representing a prayer).