beach

[ beech ]
/ bitʃ /

noun

an expanse of sand or pebbles along a shore.
the part of the shore of an ocean, sea, large river, lake, etc., washed by the tide or waves.
the area adjacent to a seashore: We're vacationing at the beach.

verb (used with object)

Nautical. to haul or run onto a beach: We beached the ship to save it.
to make inoperative or unemployed.

Origin of beach

First recorded in 1525–35; of obscure origin

SYNONYMS FOR beach

2 coast, seashore, strand, littoral, sands. See shore1.
5 ground.

OTHER WORDS FROM beach

beach·less, adjective un·beached, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH beach

beach beech

Definition for beach (2 of 2)

Beach
[ beech ]
/ bitʃ /

noun

Alfred Ely,1826–96, U.S. editor, publisher, and inventor.
Amy Marcey Cheney [mahr-see] /ˈmɑr si/,1867–1944, U.S. composer and pianist.
Moses Yale,1800–68, U.S. newspaper publisher.
Rex El·ling·wood [el-ing-woo d] /ˈɛl ɪŋˌwʊd/,1877–1949, U.S. novelist and short-story writer.
Sylvia Woodbridge,1887–1962, U.S. bookseller and publisher in France.

Example sentences from the Web for beach

British Dictionary definitions for beach

beach
/ (biːtʃ) /

noun

an extensive area of sand or shingle sloping down to a sea or lake, esp the area between the high- and low-water marks on a seacoast Related adjective: littoral

verb

to run or haul (a boat) onto a beach

Word Origin for beach

C16: perhaps related to Old English bæce river, beck ²

Scientific definitions for beach

beach
[ bēch ]

The area of accumulated sand, stone, or gravel deposited along a shore by the action of waves and tides. Beaches usually slope gently toward the body of water they border and have a concave shape. They extend landward from the low water line to the point where there is a distinct change in material (as in a line of vegetation) or in land features (as in a cliff).