broad beam

Meanings

1. 1nouncountabletechnical

   A wide, flat horizontal part of a ship or structure that supports weight across a large area.

   Grammar: Countable: one broad beam, two broad beams.

   Patterns

   • a broad beam
   • broad beams

   The ship's deck rested on a broad beam that ran from side to side.

   Engineers used a broad beam to carry the heavy load over the open space.

   The old barn was held up by a broad beam across the middle.

2. 2nounsingularfigurative

   A wide, strong smile that shows great happiness or satisfaction.

   Grammar: Usually singular and often used with 'wear' or 'have': She wore a broad beam.

   Patterns

   • wear a broad beam
   • have a broad beam
   • with a broad beam

   He walked in with a broad beam after winning the race.

   Her broad beam told us the news was good before she spoke.

   The child's broad beam lit up the whole room.

Word forms

Common combinations

a broad beam of light

A broad beam of light shone through the open door.

support on a broad beam

The roof is supported on a broad beam.

wear a broad beam

She wore a broad beam all through the party.

broad beam of timber

The ceiling was made of a broad beam of timber.

Synonyms and how they differ

girder

A girder is a strong metal beam, often used in bridges and buildings; 'broad beam' emphasizes width rather than strength.

joist

A joist is a smaller beam that supports a floor or ceiling; a broad beam is wider and usually more structural.

smile

A smile is the general word for a happy expression; 'broad beam' suggests a very wide, obvious smile.

Word family

beam noun

A long piece of wood, metal, or light.

broad adjective

Wide from side to side.

Commonly confused: broad beam or broad in the beam?

Practice

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