beacon
Definitions
General English
- noun a light which warns about something or shows ships or aircraft the way to go
Computing
Construction
- A light that indicates a location by directing its powerful beam slightly above the horizontal and rotating it so that to a stationary observer, it appears to be flashing. A beacon is used at airports, on lighthouses, etc.
Electronics
- A station, structure, or device which emits guiding, orienting, or warning signals which assist marine or aeronautical navigation.
- A signal which serves as a navigational aid that guides, orients, or warns. Such a signal may assist in marine or aeronautical navigation, and may be in the form of light, radio, radar, acoustic, or other types of signals or waves. Also called beacon signal.
- A navigational aid for a robot. Such an aid may be passive or active. An example of a passive aid is a set of reflectors, while an active one may be acoustic in nature.
- acronymBCN
Military
- noun a bonfire or light used as a signal or warning
- noun a lamp designed for use as a beacon
- noun a radio transmitter which acts as a guide to shipping or aircraft
- noun a hill traditionally used for beacon fires
Origin & History of “beacon”
In Old English, bēacen meant simply ‘sign’; it did not develop its modern senses ‘signal fire’ and ‘lighthouse’ until the 14th century. Its source is west Germanic *baukna, from which English also gets beckon (OE).
