Definition of: bead

(bēd) noun
1. Any small, usually round piece of glass, wood, stone, etc., perforated and intended to be strung with others like it on a thread or attached to a fabric for decoration.
2. plural A string of beads; especially, a rosary.
3. A bubble or bubbles on the surface of a liquid; froth.
4. A liquid drop, as of sweat.
5. A small spherical knob used as the front sight of a gun.
6. Chem. A small mass of borax or other flux, placed on a platinum wire to receive a substance for blowpipe testing
7. Metall. The spherical piece of refined metal resulting from cupellation.
8. Archit. a A molding composed of a row of half-oval ornaments resembling a string of beads. b A small convex molding.
9. That part of a pneumatic tire which grips the rim of a wheel.
—to draw a bead on To take careful aim at.
—to tell (count, or say) one's beads To recite prayers with a rosary,
—v.t. To decorate with or as with beads or beading.
—v.i. To collect in beads or drops.[OE gebed prayer]