/ biːd; NAmE / noun
1.
[ C ] a small piece of glass, wood, etc. with a hole through it, that can be put on a string with others of the same type and worn as jewellery, etc. :
a necklace of wooden beads
A bead curtain separated the two rooms.
—see also worry beads
2.
beads [ pl. ] a rosary
3.
[ C ] a small drop of liquid :
There were beads of sweat on his forehead.
•
IDIOMS
- draw / get a bead on sb/sth
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English gebed prayer , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bede and German Gebet , also to bid II . . Current senses derive from the use of a rosary, each bead representing a prayer.