1 [C] a small piece of glass, wood, etc. with a hole through it, that can be put on a string with others of the same type and worn as jewellery, etc:
a necklace of wooden beads * A bead curtain separated the two rooms.
seealsoWORRYBEADS
2 (beads) [pl.] a ROSARY:
In one of the pews a woman was fingering her beads.
3 [C] a small drop of liquid:
There were beads of sweat on his forehead.
