Etymology : Middle English beken, from Old English bEacen sign; akin to Old High German bouhhan sign
Pronunciation : 'bE-k&n
Function : noun
Date : 14th century
1. warning light; lighthouse; guide. beacon\bea"con\ , n. [oe. bekene, as. be?cen, b cen; akin to os. b kan, fries. baken, beken, sign, signal, d. baak, ohg. bouhhan, g. bake; of unknown origin. cf. beckon.].
2. a signal fire to notify of the approach of an enemy, or to give any notice, commonly of warning. no flaming beacons cast their blaze afar.
3. a signal or conspicuous mark erected on an eminence near the shore, or moored in shoal water, as a guide to mariners.
4. a high hill near the shore. [prov. eng.].
5. that which gives notice of danger. modest doubt is called the beacon of the wise.beacon fire, a signal fire.beacon \bea"con\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. beaconed ; p. pr. & vb. n. beaconing.].
6. to give light to, as a beacon; to light up; to illumine. that beacons the darkness of heaven. ampbell.
7. to furnish with a beacon or beacons.beacon n.
8. a fire (usually on a hill or tower) that can be seen from a distance [syn: beacon fire].
9. a radio station that broadcasts a directional signal for navigational purposes [syn: radio beacon].
10. a tower with a light that gives warning of shoals to passing ships [syn: lighthouse, beacon light, pharos] v 1: shine like a beacon 2: guide with a beaconbeacon a pole (heb. to'ren) used as a standard or ensign set on the tops of mountains as a call to the people to assemble themselves for some great national purpose (isa. 30:17). in isa. 33:23 and ezek. 27:5, the same word is rendered "mast." (see:
banner.).
11. A signal fire to notify of the approach of an enemy, or to give any notice, commonly of warning.
12. A signal or conspicuous mark erected on an eminence near the shore, or moored in shoal water, as a guide to mariners.
13. A high hill near the shore.
14. That which gives notice of danger.
15. To give light to, as a beacon; to light up; to illumine.
16. To furnish with a beacon or beacons. a tower with a light that gives warning of shoals to passing ships a fire that can be seen from a distance guide with a beacon shine like a beacon.
17. 1. A beacon is a light or a fire, usually on a hill or tower, which acts as a signal or a warning.
18. If someone acts as a beacon to other people, they inspire or encourage them. Our Parliament has been a beacon of hope to the peoples of Europe General Rudnicki was a moral beacon for many exiled Poles.