be
[ bee; unstressed bee, bi ]
/ bi; unstressed bi, bɪ /
verb (used without object), present singular 1st person am, 2nd are or (Archaic) art, 3rd is, present plural are; past singular 1st person was, 2nd were or (Archaic) wast or wert, 3rd was, past plural were; present subjunctive be; past subjunctive singular 1st person were, 2nd were or (Archaic) wert, 3rd were; past subjunctive plural were; past participle been; present participle be·ing.
auxiliary verb, present singular 1st person am, 2nd are or (Archaic) art, 3rd is, present plural are; past singular 1st person was, 2nd were or (Archaic) wast or wert, 3rd was, past plural were; present subjunctive be; past subjunctive singular 1st person were, 2nd were or (Archaic) wert, 3rd were; past subjunctive plural were; past participle been; present participle be·ing.
Origin of be
before 900; Middle English
been, Old English
bēon (
bēo- (akin to Old Frisian, Old High German
bim, German
bin, Old Saxon
bium, biom (I) am, Old English, Old High German, Old Saxon
būan, Old Norse
būa reside, Latin
fuī (I) have been, Greek
phy- grow, become, Old Irish
boí (he) was, Sanskrit
bhávati (he) becomes, is, Lithuanian
búti to be, OCS
byti, Persian
būd was)) +
-n infinitive suffix. See
am,
is,
are1,
was,
were
usage note for be
See
me.
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH be
be beeWords nearby be
Definition for be (2 of 7)
Definition for be (3 of 7)
B and E
or B&E
noun
Law.
the crime of breaking and entering: two of the elements of the crime of burglary.
Origin of B and E
First recorded in 1960–65
Definition for be (4 of 7)
Definition for be (5 of 7)
be-
a native English prefix formerly used in the formation of verbs: become, besiege, bedaub, befriend.
Origin of be-
Middle English, Old English, unstressed form of
bī
by1
Definition for be (6 of 7)
B.E.
Bachelor of Education.
Bachelor of Engineering.
Bank of England.
bill of exchange.
Board of Education.
Definition for be (7 of 7)
B/E
or b.e.
bill of exchange.
British Dictionary definitions for be (1 of 7)
be
1
/ (biː, unstressed bɪ) /
verb present singular 1st person am; 2nd person are; 3rd person is; present plural are; past singular 1st person was; 2nd person were; 3rd person was; past plural were; present participle being or past participle been (intr)
Word Origin for be
Old English
bēon; related to Old High German
bim am, Latin
fui I have been, Greek
phuein to bring forth, Sanskrit
bhavati he is
British Dictionary definitions for be (2 of 7)
be
2
the internet domain name for
Belgium
British Dictionary definitions for be (3 of 7)
Be
the chemical symbol for
beryllium
British Dictionary definitions for be (4 of 7)
BE
abbreviation for
bill of exchange
(in the US) Board of Education
Bachelor of Education
Bachelor of Engineering
British Dictionary definitions for be (5 of 7)
Bé
abbreviation for
Baumé
British Dictionary definitions for be (6 of 7)
be-
prefix forming verbs and verbal derivatives
(from nouns)
to surround completely; cover on all sides
befog
(from nouns)
to affect completely or excessively
bedazzle
(from nouns)
to consider as or cause to be
befool; befriend
(from nouns)
to provide or cover with
bejewel
(from verbs)
at, for, against, on, or over
bewail; berate
Word Origin for be-
Old English
be-,
bi-, unstressed variant of
bī
by
British Dictionary definitions for be (7 of 7)
B/E
BE or b.e.
abbreviation for
bill of exchange
Medical definitions for be
Be
The symbol for the elementberyllium
Scientific definitions for be (1 of 2)
Be
The symbol for beryllium.
Scientific definitions for be (2 of 2)
beryllium
[ bə-rĭl′ē-əm ]
Be
A hard, lightweight, steel-gray metallic element of the alkaline-earth group, found in various minerals, especially beryl. It has a high melting point and is corrosion-resistant. Beryllium is used to make sturdy, lightweight alloys and aerospace structural materials. It is also used as a neutron moderator in nuclear reactors. Atomic number 4; atomic weight 9.0122; melting point 1,278°C; boiling point 2,970°C; specific gravity 1.848; valence 2. See Periodic Table.
Idioms and Phrases with be
be