a signal fire or light on a hill, tower, etc, esp one used formerly as a warning of invasion a hill on which such fires were lit a lighthouse, signalling buoy, etc, used to warn or guide ships in dangerous waters - short for radio beacon
a radio or other signal marking a flight course in air navigation - short for Belisha beacon
a person or thing that serves as a guide, inspiration, or warning
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
bea•con /ˈbikən/USA pronunciation n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- a guiding signal, as a light, esp. one in a high position.
- a tower used for such purposes.
- Nautical, Naval Termsa lighthouse, signal buoy in the water, etc., to warn and guide vessels.
- Naval Terms, Nautical
- , Nautical, Naval Terms radio beacon.
- a radio device sending out a signal as an aid to navigation.
bea•con
(bē′kən),USA pronunciation n.
v.t.
v.i.
bea′con•less, adj.
Bea•con (bē′kən),USA pronunciation n.
- a guiding or warning signal, as a light or fire, esp. one in an elevated position.
- a tower or hill used for such purposes.
- Nautical, Naval Termsa lighthouse, signal buoy, etc., on a shore or at a dangerous area at sea to warn and guide vessels.
- [Navig.]
- Naval TermsSee radio beacon.
- Nauticala radar device at a fixed location that, upon receiving a radar pulse, transmits a reply pulse that enables the original sender to determine his or her position relative to the fixed location.
- a person, act, or thing that warns or guides.
- a person or thing that illuminates or inspires:The Bible has been our beacon during this trouble.
v.t.
- to serve as a beacon to;
warn or guide. - to furnish or mark with beacons:a ship assigned to beacon the shoals.
v.i.
- to serve or shine as a beacon:A steady light beaconed from the shore.
- bef. 950; Middle English beken, Old English bēacen sign, signal; cognate with Old Frisian bāken, Old Saxon bōkan, Old High German bouhhan
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged beam, buoy, pharos; signal fire; balefire.
Bea•con (bē′kən),USA pronunciation n.
- Place Namesa city in SE New York. 12,937.
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