transcription, транскрипция: [ ˈbē ]
verb
( past first & third singular was ˈwəz, ˈwäz ; second singular were ˈwər ; plural were past subjunctive were past part been ˈbin, ˈben, chiefly Brit ˈbēn ; present part be·ing ˈbē(-i)ŋ ; present first singular am əm, ˈam ; second singular are ˈär, ər ; third singular is ˈiz, əz ; plural are present subjunctive be )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English bēon; akin to Old High German bim am, Latin fui I have been, futurus about to be, fieri to become, be done, Greek phynai to be born, be by nature, phyein to produce
Date: before 12th century
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to equal in meaning : have the same connotation as : symbolize
God is love
January is the first month
let x be 10
b. : to have identity with
the first person I met was my brother
c. : to constitute the same class as
d. : to have a specified qualification or characterization
the leaves are green
e. : to belong to the class of
the fish is a trout
— used regularly in senses 1a through 1e as the copula of simple predication
2.
a. : to have an objective existence : have reality or actuality : live
I think, therefore I am
once upon a time there was a knight
b. : to have, maintain, or occupy a place, situation, or position
the book is on the table
c. : to remain unmolested, undisturbed, or uninterrupted — used only in infinitive form
let him be
d. : to take place : occur
the concert was last night
e. : to come or go
has already been and gone
has never been to the circus
f. archaic : belong , befall
verbal auxiliary
1. — used with the past participle of transitive verbs as a passive-voice auxiliary
the money was found
the house is being built
2. — used as the auxiliary of the present participle in progressive tenses expressing continuous action
he is reading
I have been sleeping
3. — used with the past participle of some intransitive verbs as an auxiliary forming archaic perfect tenses
Christ is risen from the dead — 1 Corinthians 15:20(Douay Version)
4. — used with the infinitive with to to express futurity, arrangement in advance, or obligation
I am to interview him today
she was to become famous