n. 1 long sturdy piece of squared timber or metal used in housebuilding etc. 2 ray or shaft of light or radiation. 3 bright look or smile. 4 series of radio or radar signals as a guide to a ship or aircraft. 5 crossbar of a balance. 6 a ship’s breadth. b width of a person’s hips. 7 (in pl.) horizontal crosstimbers of a ship. v. 1 emit or direct (light, approval, etc.). 2 a shine. b look or smile