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。
1.1
- a narrow, raised horizontal piece of squared timber on which a gymnast balances while performing exercises平衡木。
1.2
- 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。
1.3
- 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。
1.4
- 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。
1.5
- in sing. 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？
1.6
- the main stem of a stag's antler（牡鹿角的）主干。
1.7
- the crossbar of a balance（天平的）杠杆。
1.8
- an oscillating shaft which transmits the vertical piston movement of a beam engine to the crank or pump（引擎的）传动杆。
1.9
- the shank of an anchor锚柄, 锚干。
1.10
- 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。
2.1
- a directional flow of particles or radiation（粒子或辐射）束：
beams of electrons.
电子束。
2.2
- 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
- in sing. a radiant or good-natured look or smile笑容; 喜色：
a beam of satisfaction.
满意的笑容。
1
- with obj. and adverbial of direction transmit (a radio signal or broadcast) in a specified direction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
no obj. 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。
1.1
- 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。 - ORIGIN: phrase from the American television series Star Trek.
2
- no obj., 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
- no obj. smile radiantly面露喜色; 满脸堆笑：
she beamed with pleasure
她欣喜得满面笑容
as adj. beaming a beaming smile.灿烂的笑容。
3.1
- 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许。
短语
a beam in one's eye
- 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。
- ORIGIN: with biblical allusion to Matt. 7:3.
off（或way off）beam
- informal on the wrong track; mistaken〈非正式〉不对, 错。
on the beam
- informal on the right track〈非正式〉对, 正确。
on her（或its）beam-ends
- (of a ship) heeled over on its side; almost capsized（船）倾侧的; 几乎翻船的。
on one's beam-ends
- near the end of one's resources; desperate黔驴技穷的; 绝望的。
put the low beams on
- N. Amer. dip the headlights of one's car〈北美〉把车前灯的远光调为近光。
词源
Old English bēam 'tree， beam'， of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch boom and German Baum.