• (British) IPA: /ˈbiːkən/

beacon (plural beacons)

1. A signal fire to notify of the approach of an enemy, or to give any notice, commonly of warning.

   • No flaming beacons cast their blaze afar.

2. (nautical) A signal or conspicuous mark erected on an eminence near the shore, or moored in shoal water, as a guide to mariners.
   1. A post or buoy placed over a shoal or bank to warn vessels of danger; also a signal mark on land. (FM 55-501)
3. A high hill or other easily distinguishable object near the shore which can serve as guidance for seafarers.
4. (figurative) That which gives notice of danger, or keeps people on the correct path.
   • c. 1602, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act II, scene ii]:

     Modest doubt is called / The beacon of the wise.

5. An electronic device that broadcasts a signal to nearby portable devices, enabling smartphones etc. to perform actions when in physical proximity to the beacon.

• French: balise
• German: Leuchtfeuer
• Portuguese: almenara
• Russian: сигна́льный ого́нь
• Spanish: baliza, almenara

• French: phare
• Italian: faro, radiofaro
• Portuguese: farol
• Russian: маяк
• Spanish: almenara

• French: amer
• German: Bake
• Italian: punto cospicuo
• Spanish: cúspide, punto conspicuo

• Russian: предупрежде́ние

beacon (beacons, present participle beaconing; past and past participle beaconed)

1. (intransitive) To act as a beacon.
2. (transitive) To give light to, as a beacon; to light up; to illumine.

   • That beacons the darkness of heaven.

3. (transitive) To furnish with a beacon or beacons.

• beckon

1. A town in Western Australia.
2. A city/and/town in Iowa, USA.
3. A city in New York, USA.
4. A hamlet in Devon, England.
5. Surname