Standard Lemma guide

beta

adj · name · noun · verb · 26 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

UK: bēʹtə
UK: /ˈbiːtə/
US: bāʹtə
US: /ˈbeɪtə/
US: [ˈbeɪɾə]
South-Asia: bēʹtä
South-Asia: bāʹtä
South-Asia: /ˈbiʈɑ/
South-Asia: /ˈbeʈɑ/
Philippines: bĕʹtə
Philippines: /ˈbɛtə/
US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -iːtə
rhymes with -eɪtə
rhymes with (Philippines) -ɛtə
homophone: beater (UK, non-rhotic)
homophone: baiter (US, non-rhotic)
CMU ARPABET: B EY1 T AH0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

adj

Meaning 1

Identifying a molecular position in an organic chemical compound.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

adj

Meaning 2

Designates the second in an order of precedence.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

adj

Meaning 3

Preliminary; prerelease. Refers to an incomplete version of a product released for initial testing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

adj

Meaning 4

Associated with the beta male/female archetype.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Qualifier: object or action

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

name

Meaning 5

Clipping of Betamax

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, clipping

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

noun

Meaning 6

The second letter of the Greek alphabet (Β, β), preceded by alpha (Α, α) and followed by gamma, (Γ, γ). In modern Greek it represents the voiced labiodental fricative sound of v found in the English words have and vase.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

noun

Meaning 7

An academic grade better than a gamma and worse than an alpha.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, rare, uncountable

Topics: education

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

noun

Meaning 8

Average sensitivity of a security's price to overall securities market prices.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: business, finance

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

noun

Meaning 9

The phase of development after alpha testing and before launch, in which software, while not complete, has been released to potential users for testing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences, video-games

Examples

The company is offering a public beta program to test the software.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

noun

Meaning 10

Software in such a phase; a preliminary version.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences, video-games

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

noun

Meaning 11

Any kind of content from early development that was not used in the final product.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: proscribed, uncountable

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences, video-games

Examples

beta levels; beta characters; beta items in a video game

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

noun

Meaning 12

Information about a route which may aid someone in climbing it.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: climbing, hobbies, lifestyle, sports

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

noun

Meaning 13

A beta particle or beta ray.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: natural-sciences, physical-sciences, physics

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

noun

Meaning 14

Sideslip angle.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: aeronautics, aerospace, aviation, business, engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

noun

Meaning 15

The range of engine power settings in which the blade pitch angle of a constant-speed propeller is controlled directly by the angle of the engine's throttle lever (rather than varying with engine torque and airspeed to maintain a constant propeller RPM), allowing the propeller to be disked to generate high drag and slow the aircraft quickly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: aeronautics, aerospace, aviation, business, engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

noun

Meaning 16

Alternative spelling of betta (“fish in the genus Betta”).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, alternative, countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

noun

Meaning 17

Ellipsis of beta male, a man who is less competent or desirable than an alpha male.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, slang, uncountable

Topics: government, human-sciences, ideology, manosphere, philosophy, politics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

noun

Meaning 18

In omegaverse fiction, a person of a secondary sex similar to normal humans, lacking the biological drives of alphas and omegas but generally capable of bonding and mating with either.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, slang, uncountable

Topics: lifestyle

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

noun

Meaning 19

a term of endearment, used towards someone of equal or lower standing such as a friend or child, similar to brother or son

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Hinglish, India, North, Pakistan, colloquial, countable, uncountable

Examples

Don't pick that up, beta, it's dirty.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

noun

Meaning 20

A member of Generation Beta.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: Gen Beta, Generation Beta

Antonyms: none provided

verb

Meaning 21

To preliminarily release computer software for initial testing prior to final release.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

verb

Meaning 22

To beta-read a text.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Internet

Examples

1999, sqira a., in alt.tv.x-files.creative http://groups.google.com/group/alt.tv.x-files.creative/msg/29d32d27e61755f2?dmode=source My thanks to Heather; who read it and betaed it. Thank you.
2000, Elizabeth Durack, quoted in Angelina I. Karpovich, “The Audience as Editor: The Role of Beta Readers in Online Fan Fiction Communities” (essay), in Karen Hellekson and Kristina Busse (editors), Fan Fiction and Fan Communities in the Age of the Internet, McFarland (2006), →ISBN, page 180, Beta’ing is time-consuming, so asking a lot of people to give you a detailed analysis isn’t the most polite thing to do.
2002, Jane Davitt, in alt.tv.buffy-v-slayer.creative http://groups.google.com/group/alt.tv.buffy-v-slayer.creative/msg/9301606b391212c0?dmode=source The next part is written and beta'd (thanks, Jen!), ready to go but <shuffles feet> I haven't even started what should be the final part yet.
2002, Karmen Ghia, in alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated http://groups.google.com/group/alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated/msg/8405f53e8acbb0c1?dmode=source I had the honor of betaing this story and as I was doing the first read through I had the odd, but lovely, experience when a story suspends the reader in its own rhythm and flow, its own reality.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

adjective satellite

Meaning 23

preliminary or testing stage of a software or hardware product

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

a beta version
beta software

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

adjective satellite

Meaning 24

second in order of importance

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

the candidate, considered a beta male, was perceived to be unable to lead his party to victory

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

noun

Meaning 25

the 2nd letter of the Greek alphabet

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: letter, letter of the alphabet, alphabetic character

noun

Meaning 26

beets

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: genus Beta

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: caryophylloid dicot genus, Chenopodiaceae, family Chenopodiaceae, goosefoot family

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Semitic *bayt- Phoenician 𐤁𐤕 (bt)bor. Ancient Greek βῆτᾰ (bêtă)bor. English beta Borrowed from Ancient Greek βῆτᾰ (bêtă). Doublet of beth.

Etymology tree Prakrit 𑀩𑀺𑀝𑁆𑀝 (biṭṭa) Middle Hindi بیٿا (byṭa) Hindi बेटा (beṭā)bor. English beta Borrowed from Hindi बेटा (beṭā).

Across languages

Translations

60 source translations are retained for this English entry.

Bulgarian: бе́та (béta) — beta
Dutch: bèta — beta
Esperanto: beta — beta
Finnish: beeta — beta
French: bêta — beta
Georgian: ბეტა (beṭa) — beta
Greek: βήτα (víta) — beta
Hebrew: בֵּיתָא (béta) — beta
Interlingua: beta — beta
Italian: beta — beta
Japanese: ベータ (bēta) — beta
Korean: 베타 (beta) — beta
Persian: بتا (betâ) — beta
Polish: beta — beta
Portuguese: beta — beta
Russian: бе́та (bɛ́ta) — beta
Spanish: beta — beta
Swedish: beta — beta
Vietnamese: bêta — beta
Arabic: بِيتَا (betā) — letter of the Greek alphabet
Arabic: بِيتَا (bītā) — letter of the Greek alphabet
Asturian: beta — letter of the Greek alphabet
Bulgarian: бе́та (béta) — letter of the Greek alphabet
Catalan: beta — letter of the Greek alphabet
Chinese Cantonese: 啤打 (be1 daa2) — letter of the Greek alphabet
Chinese Mandarin: 貝塔 /贝塔 (bèitǎ) — letter of the Greek alphabet
Czech: beta — letter of the Greek alphabet
Danish: beta — letter of the Greek alphabet
Dutch: bèta — letter of the Greek alphabet
Esperanto: beto — letter of the Greek alphabet
Faroese: beta — letter of the Greek alphabet
Finnish: beeta — letter of the Greek alphabet
French: bêta — letter of the Greek alphabet
Galician: beta — letter of the Greek alphabet
Georgian: ბეტა (beṭa) — letter of the Greek alphabet
Greek: βήτα (víta) — letter of the Greek alphabet
Ancient Greek: βῆτα (bêta) — letter of the Greek alphabet
Hebrew: בֵּיתָא (béta) — letter of the Greek alphabet
Hungarian: béta — letter of the Greek alphabet
Indonesian: beta — letter of the Greek alphabet
Interlingua: beta — letter of the Greek alphabet
Irish: béite — letter of the Greek alphabet
Italian: beta — letter of the Greek alphabet
Japanese: ベータ (bēta) — letter of the Greek alphabet
Korean: 베타 (beta) — letter of the Greek alphabet
Latin: bēta — letter of the Greek alphabet
Malay: beta — letter of the Greek alphabet
Māori: peta — letter of the Greek alphabet
Persian: بتا (betâ) — letter of the Greek alphabet
Polish: beta — letter of the Greek alphabet
Portuguese: beta — letter of the Greek alphabet
Russian: бе́та (bɛ́ta) — letter of the Greek alphabet
Slovak: beta — letter of the Greek alphabet
Spanish: beta — letter of the Greek alphabet
Swedish: beta — letter of the Greek alphabet
Tagalog: beta — letter of the Greek alphabet
Thai: บีตา (bii-dtâa) — letter of the Greek alphabet
Turkish: beta — letter of the Greek alphabet
Ukrainian: бе́та (béta) — letter of the Greek alphabet
Vietnamese: bêta — letter of the Greek alphabet

Word forms

Inflections and variants

betas — plural
betas — present, singular, third-person
betaing — participle, present
betaed — participle, past
betaed — past

Word family

Derived and related words

Derived: beta amino acid, beta-amino acid, beta barrel, beta-barrel, beta blocker, beta-blocker, Betacam, beta carbon nitride, beta-carotene, beta carotene, beta cell, beta coefficient, beta decay, beta emitter, beta form 1-3, beta globin, beta globulin, beta-glucan, beta-glucosidase, beta helix, beta lactam, beta-lactam, betalike, Betamax, beta oxidation, beta-oxidation, beta particle, β-particle, beta-peptide, beta radiation, beta ray, β-ray, beta reader, beta receptor, beta sheet, beta strand, beta version, beta wave, alpha-beta filter, alphabetagamma, alpha-beta pruning, alternative beta, amyloid beta, amyloid-beta, Becrux, beta-antithrombin, beta-beam, beta blockade, betabux, betacetylmethadol, beta chain, beta city, beta-compactification, beta distribution, beta error, beta female, beta fish, beta function, beta-hydroxyisovalerylshikonin, beta iron, betaish, beta-lactamase, beta-lactamic, betalight, beta-lipoprotein, beta male, betameprodine, betamethadol, betamethasone, betamimetic, beta movement, beta-naphthol, beta orbiter, beta-pinene, beta-pleated sheet, betaprodine, betaproteobacterium, beta quartz, beta reduce, beta reduction, beta-sitosterol, beta test, beta-test, beta tester, beta testing, beta-thalassemia, betathromboglobulin, betatron, betavoltaic, betavoltaics, betaware, downside beta, labetalol, machete beta, metallo-beta-lactamase, New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1, nonbeta, region-beta paradox, smart beta

Related: exploratory, explorative, important, of import

Spelling and sound

Hyphenation and homophones

Homophones: beater (UK, non-rhotic), baiter (US, non-rhotic)

Semantic map

Other relationships

Hypernyms: letter, letter of the alphabet, alphabetic character, caryophylloid dicot genus, Chenopodiaceae, family Chenopodiaceae, goosefoot family

Hyponyms: closed beta, open beta, paid beta, perpetual beta, public beta

Holonyms: Greek alphabet

Meronyms: beet, common beet, Beta vulgaris

Coordinate Terms: alpha, gamma, theta

Sources

Where this information comes from

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