a small ball with a hole through the middle
artifact noun (man-made objects)
beads
jewelry » adornment » decoration » artifact
bede "prayer bead", from Old English gebed "prayer", from Proto-Germanic *beðan...
(Source: Online Etymology) [more]
a small, decorative object that is usually pierced for threading or stringing. Beads range in size from under 1 millimetre to over 1 centimetre in diameter. A pair of beads made from Nassarius sea snail shells, approximately 100,000 years old, are... (41 of 1812 words, 9 images)
a small, usually round piece of glass, wood, metal, etc., pierced for stringing | "rosary" (specific sense) | a string of beads; necklace | any small, ... (23 of 183 words, 13 definitions, 1 usage example, pronunciation, 1 image)
[archaic] Prayer, later especially with a rosary. | Each in a string of small balls making up the rosary or paternoster. | A small round object A small round object with a hole to allow it to be threaded on a cord or wire. | A small drop of water or... (48 of 149 words, 9 definitions, 7 usage examples, pronunciation, 1 image)
small, usually round object made of glass, wood, metal, nut, shell, bone, seed, or the like, pierced for stringing. Among primitive peoples, beads ... (23 of 718 words)
a small usually spherical piece of glass, wood, plastic, etc, with a hole ... | a small drop of moisture | a small bubble in or on a liquid | a small ... (29 of 643 words, 12 definitions, 10 usage examples, pronunciation)
a small, usually round object of glass, wood, stone, or the like with a ... | "beads": a necklace of beads. ; a rosary. ; [obsolete] devotions; ... (26 of 306 words, 19 definitions, 5 usage examples, pronunciation)
a small piece of glass, stone, or similar material that is threaded with others to make a necklace or rosary or sewn on to fabric | a drop of a liquid ... (30 of 220 words, 11 definitions, 10 usage examples, pronunciation)
"beads": [obsolete] "prayer" ; "beads": a series of prayers and meditations made with a rosary | a small piece of material pierced for threading on a ... (25 of 211 words, 6 definitions, 1 usage example, pronunciation)
www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bead
to furnish, adorn, or cover with beads or beading | to string together like beads | to form into a bead (19 of 38 words, 3 definitions)
A small, often round piece of material, such as glass, plastic, or wood, that is pierced for stringing or threading. | "beads": A necklace made of ... (25 of 190 words, 14 definitions, 1 usage example, pronunciation)
a small usually round piece of plastic, glass, metal etc with a hole ... | a small drop of a liquid such as blood or sweat (25 of 76 words, 2 definitions, 2 usage examples, pronunciation)
a small coloured often round piece of plastic, wood, glass, etc. with a ... | a very small amount of liquid (20 of 58 words, 2 definitions, 2 usage examples, pronunciation)
personal adornments worn for ornament or utility, to show rank or wealth, or to follow superstitious custom or fashion. The most universal forms of ... (24 of 105 words)
a small gemstone or glass, plastic, or wooden ball, pierced for stringing on a cord or sewing onto fabric | a drop of moisture, especially of sweat | ... (26 of 247 words, 10 definitions, pronunciation)
encarta.msn.com/dictionary 1861589442/definition.html [offline]
First use: late 14th century
Origin: bede "prayer bead", from Old English gebed "prayer", from Proto-Germanic *beðan (compare Middle Dutch bede, Old High ... (20 of 114 etymology words)
Origin: Old English gebed "prayer", of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bede and German Gebet, also to "bid2". Current senses ... (19 of 31 etymology words)
Origin: Middle English bede, rosary bead, prayer, from Old English bed, bedu, gebed, prayer; see gwhedh- in Indo-European roots.
Origin: Middle English bede, prayer, prayer bead from Old English bed from biddan, to pray, ask: see "bid"
Origin: Old English bed prayer; related to Old High German gibet prayer
Origin: Old English ġebed, from Proto-Germanic. Cognate with Dutch bede, German Gebet.
First use: before 12th century
Origin: Middle English bede prayer, prayer bead, from Old English bed, gebed prayer; akin to Old English biddan to entreat, pray
Origin: Old English gebed "prayer" from Germanic
encarta.msn.com/dictionary 1861589442/definition.html [offline]
Audio: North American pronunciation of "bead"
www.merriam-webster.com/audio.php file=bead0001 word=bead
Page last updated: 2013-01-01