◙ noun 1. a long, sturdy piece of squared timber or metal spanning an opening or part of a building, typically to support the roof or floor above • 梁，桁；横梁 a narrow, raised horizontal piece of squared timber on which a gymnast balances while performing exercises • 平衡木 a horizontal piece of squared timber or metal supporting the deck and joining the sides of a ship • （支撑船甲板的）横梁 [Nautical] the direction of an object visible from the port or starboard side of a ship when it is perpendicular to the centre line of the vessel • [航海] （与船的龙骨垂直的）横向 »there was land in sight on the port beam. 左舷正横方向可以看到陆地。 a ship's breadth at its widest point • 船宽，船幅 »a cutter with a beam of 16 feet. 船幅16英尺的独桅纵帆船。 [insing.] [informal] the width of a person's hips • [非正式] 臀围 »notice how broad in the beam she's getting? 注意到她的臀围有多宽吗？ the main stem of a stag's antler • （牡鹿角的）主干 the crossbar of a balance • （天平的）杠杆 an oscillating shaft which transmits the vertical piston movement of a beam engine to the crank or pump • （引擎的）传动杆 the shank of an anchor • 锚柄，锚干 (historical)the main timber of a horse-drawn plough • [史] （马拉犁的）犁柄 2. a ray or shaft of light • 光线；光柱 »a beam of light flashed in front of her. 一柱光在她面前闪过。 »the torch beam dimmed perceptibly. 火把的光线明显暗下来了。 a directional flow of particles or radiation • （粒子或辐射）束 »beams of electrons. 电子束。 a series of radio or radar signals emitted as a navigational guide for ships or aircraft • （导航用无线电或雷达的）射束，波束 3. [insing.] a radiant or good-natured look or smile • 笑容；喜色 »a beam of satisfaction. 满意的笑容。 ◙ verb 1. [with obj.andadverbial of direction] transmit (a radio signal or broadcast) in a specified direction[noobj.] • 定向发出（无线电信号）；（有针对性地）广播 »beaming a distress signal into space. 向太空发射求救信号。 »the TV company begins beaming into homes in the new year. 新的一年中，电视公司开始向家家户户发送节目信号。 [with obj.] (beam someone up/down)(in science fiction) transport someone instantaneously to another place, especially to or from a spaceship • （科幻小说用语）把某人瞬间转移（至或转移出宇宙飞船） 2. [noobj., with adverbial of direction] (of a light or light source) shine brightly • （光，光源）照耀 »the sun's rays beamed down. 阳光照射下来。 3. [noobj.] smile radiantly[as adj. beaming] • 面露喜色；满脸堆笑 »she beamed with pleasure. 她欣喜得满面笑容。 »a beaming smile. 灿烂的笑容。 [with obj.] express (an emotion) with a radiant smile • 微笑着流露出（感情） »the instructress beamed her approval. 女教官微笑着表示赞同。
【IDIOMS】
◘ a beam in one's eye 1. a fault that is greater in oneself than in the person one is finding fault with • （与他人相比）自身特别重大的缺点 ◘ off (或 way off) beam 1. [informal] on the wrong track;mistaken • [非正式] 不对，错 ◘ on her (或 its) beam-ends 1. (of a ship) heeled over on its side; almost capsized • （船）倾侧的；几乎翻船的 ◘ on one's beam-ends 1. near the end of one's resources;desperate • 黔驴技穷的；绝望的 ◘ put the low beams on 1. [N. Amer.] dip the headlights of one's car • [北美] 把车前灯的远光调为近光
【语源】
1. Old English bēam 'tree, beam', of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch boom and German Baum