beta

[ bey-tuh or, esp. British, bee- ]

/ ˈbeɪ tə or, esp. British, ˈbi- /

noun

the second letter of the Greek alphabet (β, B).

the consonant sound represented by this letter.

(initial capital letter) Astronomy. a star that is usually the second brightest of a constellation: The second brightest star in Taurus is Beta Tauri.

Chemistry.

one of the possible positions of an atom or group in a compound.
one of two or more isomeric compounds.

the second of any series, as in chemistry or physics.

Also called beta coefficient, beta line. Stock Exchange. an arbitrary measure of the volatility of a given stock using an index of the volatility of the market as a whole: A beta of 1.1 indicates a stock that is 10 percent more volatile than the market.

(initial capital letter) Trademark. a brand of tape format for VCR tape, incompatible with other formats. Compare VHS.

Chiefly British. a grade showing that a student is in the middle or second of three scholastic sections in a class. Compare alpha(def 7), gamma(def 9).

Origin of beta

< Latin < Greek bêta < Semitic; compare Hebrew bēth beth

Words nearby beta

bestud, bet, bet on the wrong horse, bet one's ass, bet., beta, beta blocker, beta brass, beta carotene, beta cell, beta coefficient

Example sentences from the Web for beta

Beta amyloid, which OL-1 is meant to lower, was first implicated in the disease at its identification by Alois Alzheimer in 1906.

Trial Drug Reverses Alzheimer’s Disease in Mice |Elizabeth Lopatto |May 24, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Most researchers think the disease is caused by the build-up of beta amyloid.

Twenty Years of Alzheimer’s Research May Have Focused on the Wrong Protein |Elizabeth Lopatto |April 4, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Beta amyloid, he thinks, is one of many things that can stress cellular garbage disposal in the brain.

Twenty Years of Alzheimer’s Research May Have Focused on the Wrong Protein |Elizabeth Lopatto |April 4, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Or, if Wischik is right, beta amyloid has been the wrong focus all along.

Twenty Years of Alzheimer’s Research May Have Focused on the Wrong Protein |Elizabeth Lopatto |April 4, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly & Co. developed an imaging agent called Amyvid, which binds to beta amyloid in the brain.

Twenty Years of Alzheimer’s Research May Have Focused on the Wrong Protein |Elizabeth Lopatto |April 4, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
They have for the sake of convenience been called the alpha, beta, and gamma rays.

A Brief Account of Radio-activity |Francis Preston Venable
Swarming on Beta maritima and other plants in July (Lucas, 1920a).

The Biotic Associations of Cockroaches |Louis M. Roth
It was impossible to complete the Beta circuit, which short-circuited.

Astounding Stories of Super-Science April 1930 |Various
They wouldn't live to be crushed by disappointment when the Sky Fire receded as Beta went into the long swing toward apastron.

Oomphel in the Sky |Henry Beam Piper
Beta and Allan, warmly and snugly sheltered in their cave, cared nothing for the storm.

Darkness and Dawn |George Allan England

British Dictionary definitions for beta (1 of 2)

beta

/ (ˈbiːtə) /

noun

the second letter in the Greek alphabet (Β, β), a consonant, transliterated as b

the second highest grade or mark, as in an examination

(modifier)

involving or relating to electronsbeta emitter
relating to one of two or more allotropes or crystal structures of a solidbeta iron
relating to one of two or more isomeric forms of a chemical compound

Word Origin for beta

from Greek bēta, from Hebrew; see beth

British Dictionary definitions for beta (2 of 2)

Beta

/ (ˈbiːtə) /

noun

(foll by the genitive case of a specified constellation) a star in a constellation, usually the second brightest Beta Persei

Medical definitions for beta

beta

[ bā′tə, bē′- ]

n.

The second letter of the Greek alphabet.

The second item in a series or system of classification.

A beta particle.

A beta ray.

adj.

Of or relating to the second position from a designated carbon atom in an organic molecule at which an atom or a radical may be substituted.

Of or relating to an isomeric variation of a chemical compound, such as a stereoisomer.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

beta

noun

Origin of beta

Words nearby beta

Example sentences from the Web for beta

British Dictionary definitions for beta (1 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for beta

British Dictionary definitions for beta (2 of 2)

noun

Medical definitions for beta

n.

adj.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

beta

noun

Origin of beta

Words nearby beta

Words related to beta

Example sentences from the Web for beta

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for beta (1 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for beta

British Dictionary definitions for beta (2 of 2)

noun

Medical definitions for beta

n.

adj.

British Dictionary definitions for beta (1 of 2)