From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Beacon \Bea"con\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Beaconed} (b[=e]"k'nd);
p. pr. & vb. n. {Beaconing}.]
1. To give light to, as a beacon; to light up; to illumine.
[1913 Webster]
That beacons the darkness of heaven. --Campbell.
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2. To furnish with a beacon or beacons.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Beacon \Bea"con\ (b[=e]"k'n), n. [OE. bekene, AS. be['a]cen,
b[=e]cen; akin to OS. b[=o]kan, Fries. baken, beken, sign,
signal, D. baak, OHG. bouhhan, G. bake; of unknown origin.
Cf. {Beckon}.]
1. A signal fire to notify of the approach of an enemy, or to
give any notice, commonly of warning.
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No flaming beacons cast their blaze afar. --Gay.
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2. A signal, such as that from a lighthouse, or a conspicuous
mark erected on an eminence near the shore, or moored in
shoal water, as a guide to mariners.
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3. A high hill near the shore. [Prov. Eng.]
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4. That which gives notice of danger.
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Modest doubt is called
The beacon of the wise. --Shak.
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5. (Navigation) a radio transmitter which emits a
characteristic signal indication its location, so that
vehicles may determine their exact location by locating
the beacon with a radio compass; -- also called {radio
beacon}.
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5. [fig.] that which provides guidance or inspiration; the
Constitution has been a beacon for civil rights activists.
[PJC]
{Beacon fire}, a signal fire.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
beacon
n 1: a fire (usually on a hill or tower) that can be seen from a
distance [syn: {beacon}, {beacon fire}]
2: a radio station that broadcasts a directional signal for
navigational purposes [syn: {radio beacon}, {beacon}]
3: a tower with a light that gives warning of shoals to passing
ships [syn: {beacon}, {lighthouse}, {beacon light}, {pharos}]
v 1: shine like a beacon
2: guide with a beacon
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