1. A small, often round piece of material, such as glass, plastic, or wood, that is pierced for stringing or threading. 2. A necklace made of such pieces. 3. A rosary. 4. A prayer. Often used in the plural. 5. A small, round object, especially: 6. beads of sweat. 7. A bubble of gas in a liquid. 8. A small metal knob on the muzzle of a firearm, such as a rifle, used for sighting. 9. A strip of material, usually wood, with one molded edge placed flush against the inner part of a door or window frame. 10. A decoration consisting of a usually continuous series of small spherical shapes, as on a convex molding. 11. Beading. 12. A projecting rim or lip, as on a pneumatic tire. 13. A line of continuously-applied ductile material, such as solder or caulking compound. 14. A globule of fused borax or other flux used in a bead test. 15. To furnish with or collect into beads. 16. To take careful aim at.
