beads 1 of 2

plural of bead
as in droplets
the quantity of fluid that falls naturally in one rounded mass squeeze a bead or two of glue onto the seam

Synonyms & Similar Words

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beads

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of bead

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of beads
Noun
When the moon starts to cross in front of the sun, the star’s rays will shine around valleys on the moon’s horizon, creating glowing drops of light around the moon called Baily’s beads. Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026 As the moon slid into place over the sun, onlookers may have seen Baily’s beads—flashes of sunlight shining through valleys along the moon’s rugged limb. Claire Cameron & Lee Billings, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2026 Crews will soon use an epoxy coating embedded with tiny glass beads to mark the bus-only lanes in the city's Oakland neighborhood red. Megan Shinn, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026 Store Craft Supplies Keep beads, paint brushes, and other craft supplies organized by storing them in their own upcycled candle jars with a small label if desired. Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 9 Aug. 2026 This project typically involves removing the lid handles and connecting two lids with a central support made from materials such as wooden beads, dowels, or other sturdy pieces. Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 5 Aug. 2026 Diamond rings and Baily's beads These are trademarks of totality, but require care to see. Jamie Carter, Space.com, 3 Aug. 2026 There are a total of 84 LED beads on that sizable front grille. New Atlas, 1 Aug. 2026 Nuclear specialists are trained in the collection of these glass beads but usually have only a regular vacuum cleaner, broom, and dustpan at their disposal to aid their work. Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 31 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beads
Noun
  • What Can Happen If Leaves Get Wet A few splashes or droplets won’t harm your plants.
    Lauren David, Southern Living, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Sometimes, those droplets can drop below freezing but stay liquid.
    Ray Petelin, CBS News, 8 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Dividing clumps every few years in early spring also maintains their vigor.
    SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 11 July 2026
  • Like generations of potential treatments before it, KRSA-028 is designed to break down a protein called amyloid that clumps up in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.
    Allison DeAngelis, STAT, 18 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Bathroom sink drains can become clogged from hair, globs of toothpaste, and soapy residue.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 30 May 2026
  • Bieber’s face artfully dotted with globs of lotion.
    Lucy Feldman, Time, 6 May 2026
Noun
  • Set casseroles, cakes, pies, meat, and other full dishes that have the potential to overflow on a sheet pan so any drips will be contained rather than spilling onto the racks and the oven floor.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Be sure to wash your feeder twice a week, both inside and out, and check for drips or leaks.
    Joan Morris, Mercury News, 17 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • This kit comes with an aroma sample and a felt diffuser—add a few drops of the Bergamot Tea Blossom scent to further enhance your bathing experience.
    Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Resistance work signals the body to hold onto muscle even as fat drops.
    Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 17 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • In cream, triglycerides are packaged into globules or crystals.
    Rosemary Trout, Scientific American, 27 June 2026
  • Little, golden globules of fat are pooling on the surface like Monet lily pads.
    Adam Rapoport, Air Mail, 23 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Beads.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beads. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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