beacon fire

2 definitions found

beacon fire - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Beacon \Bea"con\ (b[=e]"k'n), n. [OE. bekene, AS. be['a]cen,
     b[=e]cen; akin to OS. b[=o]kan, Fries. baken, beken, sign,
     signal, D. baak, OHG. bouhhan, G. bake; of unknown origin.
     Cf. Beckon.]
     1. A signal fire to notify of the approach of an enemy, or to
        give any notice, commonly of warning.
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              No flaming beacons cast their blaze afar. --Gay.
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     2. A signal, such as that from a lighthouse, or a conspicuous
        mark erected on an eminence near the shore, or moored in
        shoal water, as a guide to mariners.
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     3. A high hill near the shore. [Prov. Eng.]
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     4. That which gives notice of danger.
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              Modest doubt is called
              The beacon of the wise.               --Shak.
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     5. (Navigation) a radio transmitter which emits a
        characteristic signal indication its location, so that
        vehicles may determine their exact location by locating
        the beacon with a radio compass; -- also called radio  beacon
        .
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     5. [fig.] that which provides guidance or inspiration; the
        Constitution has been a beacon for civil rights activists.
        [PJC]
  
     Beacon fire, a signal fire.
        [1913 Webster]

beacon fire - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  beacon fire
      n 1: a fire (usually on a hill or tower) that can be seen from a
           distance [syn: beacon, beacon fire]