Meaning

• Prayer, later especially with a rosary.

• Each in a string of small balls making up the rosary or paternoster.

• A small, round object.

• (heading) A ridge, band, or molding.

• Knowledge sufficient to direct one's activities to a purpose.

  "We now have a bead on the main technical issues for the project"

• A glassy drop of molten flux, as borax or microcosmic salt, used as a solvent and color test for several mineral earths and oxides, as of iron, manganese, etc., before the blowpipe.

  "the borax bead;  the iron bead, etc."

• Front sight of a gun.

Meaning

• To form into a bead.

  "The raindrops beaded on the car's waxed finish."

• To apply beads to.

  "She spent the morning beading the gown."

• To form into a bead.

  "He beaded some solder for the ends of the wire."

• To cause beads to form on (something).