beacon

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Since then, this beacon has been a best seller.

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Definitions (22)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (5)

  1. noun A signaling or guiding device, such as a lighthouse, located on a coast.
  2. noun A radio transmitter that emits a characteristic guidance signal for aircraft.
  3. noun A source of guidance or inspiration.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (10)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (2)

Toggle WordNet definitions WordNet (5)

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Examples (50)

 

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This word has been looked up 189 times.

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Etymologies (3)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English beken, from Old English bēacen; see bhā-1 in Indo-European roots.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (2)

  1. from Middle English beken, bekene, from Anglo-Saxon beácen, bēcen, bēcn, a sign, signal-standard, = Old Saxon bōkan = OFries. bēken, bāken = Dutch baak = Low German bāke (later G. bake) = Old High German bouhhan, Middle High German bouchen = Icelandic bākn (after Anglo-Saxon), a sign. Hence beckon and beck.
  2. from beacon, n. Cf. beckon.
 

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/ˈbikən/
by American Heritage

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