Beam

1. One of the principal horizontal timbers of a building or ship.
2. The width of a vessel; as, one vessel is said to have more beam than another.
3. One of the long feathers in the wing of a hawk; -- called also beam feather.
4. A ray or collection of parallel rays emitted from the sun or other luminous body; as, a beam of light, or of heat.
5. Fig.: A ray; a gleam; as, a beam of comfort.
6. The main part of a plow, to which the handles and colter are secured, and to the end of which are attached the oxen or horses that draw it.
7. Any large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to its thickness, and prepared for use.
8. The straight part or shank of an anchor.
9. A cylinder of wood, making part of a loom, on which weavers wind the warp before weaving; also, the cylinder on which the cloth is rolled, as it is woven; one being called the fore beam, the other the back beam.
10. To send forth; to emit; -- followed ordinarily by forth; as, to beam forth light.
11. A heavy iron lever having an oscillating motion on a central axis, one end of which is connected with the piston rod from which it receives motion, and the other with the crank of the wheel shaft; -- called also working beam or walking beam.
12. The pole of a carriage.
13. To emit beams of light.
14. The principal stem or horn of a stag or other deer, which bears the antlers, or branches.
15. The bar of a balance, from the ends of which the scales are suspended.