beacon

Meaning

1. A signal fire to notify of the approach of an enemy, or to give any notice, commonly of warning.
2. A signal, buoy, post, or other conspicuous mark erected on an eminence near the shore, or moored in shoal water, as a guide to mariners, particularly to warn vessels of danger.
3. A high hill or other easily distinguishable object near the shore which can serve as guidance for seafarers.
4. That which gives notice of danger, hope, etc., or keeps people on the correct path.
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.
6. Short for web beacon.

lighthouse

pharos

signal fire

beacon fire

beacon light

warning light

indicator lamp

marker beacon

signal light

bale-fire

directing sign

sighting target

signal bridge

navigation mark

shore beacon

rotating light

sighting board

elucidate

fairway buoy

Frequency

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈbiːkən/

From Middle English beken, from Old English bēacn (“sign, signal”), from Proto-West Germanic *baukn, from Proto-Germanic *baukną (compare West Frisian beaken (“buoy”), Dutch baken (“beacon”), Middle Low German bāke (“beacon, sign”), German Bake (“traffic sign”), Middle High German bouchen (“sign”)), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂u-, *bʰeh₂- (“to shine”).