bead

/biːd/

Prayer, later especially with a rosary.

Each in a string of small balls making up the rosary or paternoster.

A small, round object.

(heading) A ridge, band, or molding.

Knowledge sufficient to direct one's activities to a purpose.

We now have a bead on the main technical issues for the project

A glassy drop of molten flux, as borax or microcosmic salt, used as a solvent and color test for several mineral earths and oxides, as of iron, manganese, etc., before the blowpipe.

the borax bead; the iron bead, etc.

Front sight of a gun.