beacon

beacon — noun

1. a bright light or a controlled fire put in a high, open spot — for example a hil

1.nounC1
Definition

a bright light or a controlled fire put in a high, open spot — for example a hilltop, a clifftop, or a tall pole — so people far away can see it and know there is danger or a message to read.

Example

Sailors near the rocks watched for the beacon flashing on the cliff above the harbour.

physical signal warning of danger

Villagers lit a beacon on the hilltop to warn nearby towns that enemy ships had arrived.

historical use: lit a beacon on

Common collocations
  • light a beacon
  • a beacon flashes
  • warning beacon
  • hilltop beacon
Synonyms
  • signal fire

    older or historical phrasing for the same idea

  • lighthouse

    specifically a tall tower by the sea, while 'beacon' is broader

  • warning light

    neutral term, often electric and small, less dramatic in scale

Usage Note

Often appears with verbs of lighting and seeing: 'light a beacon', 'see a beacon', 'a beacon flashes'. The location is usually named with 'on' (on a hill, on a tower, on the cliff).

Common Mistakes

They lighted a beacon in the cave to warn the ships.
They lit a beacon on the cliff to warn the ships.
a beacon must be in a place far-seen from outside, not hidden inside; and the past tense of 'light' here is 'lit'.

2. a small machine that sends out radio waves so pilots, sailors, or rescue teams c

2.nounC2
Definition

a small machine that sends out radio waves so pilots, sailors, or rescue teams can work out exactly where the ship, plane, or person carrying it is.

Example

After the crash, the plane's emergency beacon helped rescuers find Fadi within four hours.

emergency beacon for locating people

Every climber on the team carries a small beacon clipped to the strap of their backpack.

personal locator beacon worn on body

Common collocations
  • emergency beacon
  • locator beacon
  • radio beacon
  • activate a beacon
Synonyms
  • transponder

    more technical; replies to a query rather than broadcasting alone

  • transmitter

    broader term for any device that sends radio waves

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1: this beacon is electronic and small, often invisible from a distance, while sense 1 is a visible light or fire. Common compounds: 'emergency beacon', 'locator beacon', 'radio beacon'.

Common Mistakes

The pilot looked up and saw the radio beacon on the mountain.
The pilot picked up the radio beacon's signal from the mountain.
a radio beacon is heard or detected, not seen with the eyes.

3. a person, place, or idea that other people look toward when they feel lost, beca

3.nounC2
Definition

a person, place, or idea that other people look toward when they feel lost, because it shows them that something good — like hope, freedom, or kindness — is still possible.

Example

During the long war, the small library stayed open and became a beacon of hope for the city.

beacon of + abstract noun (hope)

Her grandmother was a beacon of kindness to every neighbour on the street.

person as beacon of + virtue

Common collocations
  • a beacon of hope
  • a beacon of freedom
  • shining beacon
  • serve as a beacon
Synonyms
  • inspiration

    more general; lacks the 'guiding light from afar' image

  • guiding light

    very close in meaning, slightly more poetic

  • role model

    only for people, and more about behaviour than hope

Grammar Patterns

a beacon of N

Usage Note

Almost always in the pattern 'a beacon of [abstract noun]' (hope, freedom, light, kindness) or 'a beacon for [group]'. Strong positive feeling — do not use for neutral or bad examples.

Common Mistakes

Greedy companies are a beacon of selfishness in the market.
Greedy companies are an example of selfishness in the market.
'beacon' is reserved for things people admire and follow; do not use it with negative qualities.

beacon — verb

Word family

  • beckon
    verbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/3

All four describe something or someone we look up to, but the picture each one paints is different. 'Beacon' is the strongest visual: a bright light on a high spot that people can see from far away, so it suits big causes — hope, freedom, justice. 'Inspiration' is the most general and sounds least dramatic; you can have an inspiration for a small painting or a weekend hobby, where 'beacon' would feel too grand. 'Role model' applies only to people, and only to their behaviour — a parent or a coach you copy day by day. 'Guiding light' is very close to 'beacon' but feels gentler and more personal, often used about one trusted person in your own life. Compare: 'Mandela was a beacon of freedom for the world,' but 'My older sister has been my guiding light since I was small.'

beaconinspirationrole modelguiding light

Common collocations

Nouns

  • hope
  • freedom
  • light
  • kindness
  • hilltop
  • lighthouse
  • tower

Adverbs

  • brightly
  • steadily
  • dimly

Phrases

  • a beacon of hope
  • shining beacon
  • light a beacon
  • serve as a beacon
  • emergency beacon

Prepositions

  • beacon of
  • beacon for
  • beacon on
  • beacon from

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English

The word goes back to Old English 'beacen', meaning a sign or a banner — anything raised up so people could read a message from afar. The same root appears in 'beckon', the verb for waving someone over, because both ideas share the picture of calling people in by something they can see at a distance. By the Middle English period, 'beacon' had narrowed to mostly mean a fire or light placed on a hill to warn of danger, and from there it grew the modern meanings: lighthouse, radio signal, and finally any inspiring example that 'shines' for others.