betan.
/ˈbiːtə/, U.S. /ˈbeɪdə/ 1. The second letter of the Greek alphabet, Β, β.
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society > communication > writing > written character > name of written character > [noun] > Greek
alphac1175
muc1175
betaa1400
taua1400
chic1400
deltac1400
etac1400
kappac1400
gamma?a1425
lambda?a1425
nu?a1425
phi?a1425
pi?a1425
psi?a1425
rho?a1425
xi?a1425
zeta?a1425
upsilon1559
san1584
omega1599
theta1603
iota1607
sigma1607
omicron1631
digamma1699
epsilon1842
zeta1850
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 12425 Bot sai þou me first o betha, And siþen i sal þe sai alpha.
2. In various scientific uses; esp.
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a. Astronomy. Used to mark the second star in a constellation.
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b. Chemistry. The second of two or more isomerous modifications of the same organic compound.
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c. Natural History. The second sub-species or permanent variety of a species.
d. In various other classifications. Cf. alpha n. and adj.
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1866 H. Watts Dict. Chem. IV. 235 Stenhouse designated the acid obtained from South American Roccella..as α-orsellic, and that prepared..from South African Roccella as β-orsellic.
1867 G. F. Chambers Descr. Astron. vi. ii. 482 Amongst the conspicuous stars β Libræ appears to be the only instance.
1877 H. Watts Fownes's Man. Elem. Chem. II. 497 Beta-orcin is obtained by dry distillation of usnic acid.
e. Mathematics. beta distribution, a distribution of a variate x of the form dF = xp − 1(1 − x)q − 1dx/B(p, q), where 0 ≦ x ≦ 1, p, q > 0; beta function, the function B(p, q) = 10xp − 1(1 − x)q − 1dx, where p, q > o; also called the complete beta function and the first Eulerian integral; also, the function Bx(p, q) = x0xp − 1(1 − x)q − 1dx (the incomplete beta function).
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the world > relative properties > number > algebra > [noun] > expression > function
function1758
exponential1784
potential function1828
syzygy1850
permutant1852
Green function1863
theta-function1871
Greenian1876
Gudermannian1876
discriminoid1877
Weierstrassian function1878
gradient1887
beta function1888
distribution function1889
Riemann zeta function1899
Airy integral1903
Poisson bracket1904
Stirling approximation1908
functional1915
metric1921
Fourier transform1923
recursive function1934
utility function1934
Airy function1939
transfer function1948
objective function1949
restriction1949
multifunction1954
restriction mapping1956
scalar function1956
Langevin function1960
mass function1961
the world > relative properties > number > probability or statistics > [noun] > distribution
distribution1854
random distribution1882
frequency distribution1895
probability distribution1895
Poisson distribution1898
binomial distribution1911
Student's t-distribution1925
sampling distribution1928
probability density1931
Poisson1940
beta distribution1941
Cauchy distribution1948
geometric distribution1950
1888 W. W. R. Ball Hist. Math. xviii. 368 The Beta and Gamma functions were invented by Euler.
1924 C. H. Forsyth Introd. Math. Anal. Statistics iv. 61 The value of any Beta function for positive values of m and n can be expressed directly in terms of Gamma functions.
1941 Biometrika 32 153 The special character of the Beta-distribution..makes it necessary to vary the method of computation in different parts of the range of variables covered.
1967 A. Battersby Network Anal. (ed. 2) 319 The method of calculating the expected value and variance of the duration of a job depends on the assumption that the duration follows a Beta distribution. The Beta distribution is derived from the Beta function.
f. Physics.
(a) beta (or β) radiation, the second of three types of radiation emitted by radioactive substances, having greater penetrating power than alpha radiation. So beta (or β) particle, beta ray.
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the world > matter > physics > atomic nucleus > radioactivity > beta radiation > [noun]
beta (or β) radiation1899
the world > matter > physics > atomic nucleus > radioactivity > beta radiation > [noun] > ray of
beta ray1899
the world > matter > physics > atomic nucleus > radioactivity > beta radiation > [noun] > particle in
beta (or β) particle1899
1899 E. Rutherford in London, Edinb. & Dublin Philos. Mag. 5th Ser. 47 116 These experiments show that uranium radiation is complex, and that there are present at least two distinct types of radiation—one that is very readily absorbed, which will be termed for convenience the α radiation, and the other of a more penetrative character, which will be termed the β radiation.
1902 E. Rutherford & A. G. Grier in London, Edinb. & Dublin Philos. Mag. 6th Ser. 4 325 For brevity and convenience we will call the non-deviable rays of all radioactive substances α rays and the deviable rays β rays.
1904 Rutherford in Nature 10 Mar. 437/1 It is to be expected that Röntgen rays would be set up at the sudden starting as well as the sudden stopping of the electron or β particle.
1909 F. Soddy Interpr. Radium 55 In ordinary circumstances radium appears to be expelling both α- and β-particles together.
1922 A. S. Eddington Theory of Relativity 19 The β particles shot off from radioactive substances are negative electrons which sometimes attain speeds of 100,000 miles a second.
1933 Discovery Feb. 45/1 Beta radiations, which are streams of electrons.
1957 Technology Mar. 14/2 Both beta and gamma rays can also be used for gauging thickness or height in the examination, for instance, of red-hot sheets of steel.
(b) Hence denoting a process in which, or a substance from which, beta particles are emitted, as beta decay, beta disintegration, beta emission, beta emitter.
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the world > matter > physics > atomic nucleus > radioactive isotope > radioactive nuclide > [noun] > radioactive decay
beta decay1931
beta disintegration1931
the world > matter > physics > atomic nucleus > radioactivity > beta radiation > [noun] > particle in > emission of
beta decay1931
beta disintegration1931
beta emission1931
the world > matter > physics > atomic nucleus > radioactivity > beta radiation > [noun] > particle in > substance emitting
beta emitter1931
1931 Rutherford in Proc. Royal Soc. A. 132 674 There will be a broadening of the line by the Doppler effect due to recoil of the nucleus from the immediately preceding β-disintegration.
1933 C. D. Ellis & Mott in Proc. Royal Soc. A. 141 502 The..upper limit of the β-ray spectrum is a significant parameter with which to classify a β-disintegration.
1934 G. Gamow in Proc. Royal Soc. A. 146 217 Every theory treating the β-decay as the transformation of a nuclear neutron into a proton.
1935 Internat. Conference Physics 1934 I. 41 The final state of the nucleus after a β-emission is an excited one.
1947 C. D. Coryell in C. Goodman Sci. & Engin. Nuclear Power I. 248 (heading) Long-lived β emitters without γ radiation.
1955 Gloss. Terms Radiol. (B.S.I.) 6 Beta decay, the radioactive decay process characterized by the emission of a beta particle. The parent atom involved is called a beta emitter.
g. Metallurgy. (a) Applied to the second of a series of allotropic forms of iron (see quot. 1949); (b) applied to the second of a range of alloys, as beta brass, the second of a series of alloys of copper and zinc, containing less copper than in alpha brass. Cf. alpha adj. 2.
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1885 Jrnl. Iron & Steel Inst. ii. 618 The author [Osmond] believes..that there are two..varieties of iron, α and β. The crystalline iron α is obtained by tempering at a red heat, followed by a slow cooling. This is transformed into the β variety (which the structure of tempered steel shows to be amorphous) either by a permanent alteration at a low temperature, or by rapid cooling from a red heat..in the presence of carbon, or some other body (manganese, tungsten) exercising the same influence on the..steel.
1895 Jrnl. Iron & Steel Inst. 48 258 A special strong, hard, brittle, allotropic state called β iron.
1914 Jrnl. Inst. Metals 11 105 Plane sections through a bees' honeycomb..a benzene water-foam, and an over-annealed β brass are all very similar in appearance.
1949 R. T. Rolfe Dict. Metallogr. (ed. 2) 24 Beta iron, formerly, a supposed allotropic form of i[ron] stable between..768° and about 900° C., of body-centred cubic form, and only very feebly magnetic. In reality, the change in magnetic susceptibility of α-iron occurring at 768° C. is not associated with any structural transformation and β-iron is no longer recognized as a distinct variety.
h. beta rhythm, beta waves, fast activity of the brain recorded in an electroencephalogram, having a frequency of fourteen to twenty-four cycles per second. Cf. alpha n. 5.
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the world > life > biology > biological processes > action of nervous system > [noun] > electrical phenomena
neuroelectricity1914
rheobase1917
bioelectricity1925
monophasicity1932
Berger rhythm1934
skin potential1934
brain wave1935
beta rhythm1936
beta waves1936
theta1944
hyperpolarization1946
hyperpolarizing1950
conductance1966
biopower1978
1935 Brain 58 349 Berger describes a definite series of small oscillations—the b waves—superimposed on the primary a waves of the 10 a second rhythm. The frequency of the b waves is given as 35 a second.]
1936 Arch. Neurol. & Psychiatry (Chicago) 36 1215 Less prominent, because lower in voltage, is a faster rhythm, with a frequency of about 25 waves a second, called by Berger the ‘beta waves’.
1936 Arch. Neurol. & Psychiatry (Chicago) 36 1220 A prominent fast (beta) rhythm.
1943 Electronic Engin. 16 237 Faster rhythms, sometimes called ‘beta’ rhythms, have been described in the EEG.
i. beta receptor (Physiology), one of two categories of adrenergic receptor on organs innervated by sympathetic nerves, which when stimulated increases cardiac action and blood flow and relaxes smooth muscle; beta-blocker (Pharmacology), a drug that prevents the stimulation of beta receptors; so beta-blocking adj.
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the world > life > the body > nervous system > substance of nervous system > [noun] > adrenergic receptor > specific
beta receptor1948
the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > medicines for specific purpose > preparations for treating specific parts > [adjective] > for the heart
cardiacal1620
cardiac1655
cardiotonic1866
beta-blocking1948
the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > medicines for specific purpose > preparations for treating specific parts > [noun] > for the heart > specific drugs
khellin1879
procainamide1950
pronethalol1963
propranolol1964
alprenolol1967
verapamil1967
oxprenolol1968
sotalol1968
perhexiline1969
practolol1969
beta-blocker1970
pindolol1971
acebutolol1972
mexiletine1973
atenolol1974
metoprolol1974
labetalol1975
propafenone1975
amrinone1977
1948 R. P. Ahlquist in Amer. Jrnl. Physiol. 153 596 One type of [adrenotropic] receptor is associated with most of the excitatory functions and with at least one of the inhibitory functions (intestine). The other type is associated with most of the inhibitory functions and with one..excitatory function (myocardium)... Because of the opposite effects..the customary signs, E (excitatory) and I (inhibitory) cannot be applied. Therefore, for convenience they have been designated as the alpha adrenotropic receptors and the beta receptors.
1965 J. H. Burn Lect. Notes Pharmacol. (ed. 8) 8 The β-blocking agents are those which prevent adrenaline from causing relaxation in smooth muscle.
1970 Biol. Abstr. 51 96372 Beta blockers exert a powerful physiological effect primarily on the cardiovascular system.
1977 South China Morning Post (Hong Kong) 22 July 16/4 We're hoping that beta blockers will calm performers without taking the edge off their performance.
1983 D. J. Weatherall et al. Oxf. Textbk. Med. II. xiii. 64 Inhibition of the beta receptor in bronchial smooth muscle is likely to produce a significant increase in airways resistance in asthmatic subjects.
1983 D. J. Weatherall et al. Oxf. Textbk. Med. II. xiii. 66/1 Beta-blocking agents may produce depression and other central nervous system side-effects, such as sleep-disturbances, insomnia, and nightmares.
1986 Here's Health Dec. 28/3 With the advent of calcium channel blockers advertising has mentioned side-effects from beta blockers which were never mentioned during their peak of acceptability.
3. An examiner's second-class mark. Also transferred.
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society > education > educational administration > examination > [noun] > marks > specific marks
accessit1753
honour1774
credit1802
second class1810
firsta1830
first class1830
third class1844
Hons.1850
max1851
second1852
special mention1886
distinction?1890
A1892
E1892
pass mark1894
two-two1895
alpha1898
alpha plus1898
gamma1898
beta1902
delta1911
alpha minus1914
fourth1914
straight A1926
two-one1937
lower second1960
honourable mention2011
1902 S. T. in Oxf. Mag. 22 Jan. And what I deemed an α rules (Like markets) flat as β+.
1936 ‘N. Blake’ Thou Shell of Death vi. 104 He's quite a decent old trot, but definitely in the Beta class.
1958 Oxf. Mag. 13 Mar. 362/1 I have mentioned twenty recent pictures..four have some alpha about them; the rest are gamma minus to beta plus (I have not mentioned deltas).
Draft additions 1993
beta test, a test of machinery, software, etc. in course of final development, carried out by a party or parties unconnected with the developer (frequently attributive); so beta testing, beta-test v. transitive, beta-tester. Cf. alpha test n. 3
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the world > action or operation > endeavour > trial or experiment > trial, test, or testing > [adjective] > specific tests
fiery1568
double-blind1950
blind1962
single-blind1963
beta test1978
randomized1978
the world > action or operation > endeavour > trial or experiment > trial, test, or testing > try or test [verb (transitive)] > new machinery or equipment > by party unconnected with developer
beta test1978
the world > action or operation > endeavour > trial or experiment > trial, test, or testing > [noun] > specific tests or testing > test of materials or equipment > by party unconnected with developer
beta testing1978
the world > action or operation > endeavour > trial or experiment > trial, test, or testing > [noun] > specific tests or testing > test of materials or equipment > by party unconnected with developer > one who
beta-tester1978
1978 Aviation Week 6 Feb. 243/3 A competition currently is under way to select a contractor to design and build a Beta testbed facility for evaluation during Fiscal 1980.
1981 Electronics 24 Feb. 250/2 Xidak has added a symbolic debugger that is now at the beta test-site stage.
1982 Inc. Jan. 68 The software is tested, usually by both an inhouse staff (called alpha-testers) and by outsiders (called beta-testers), and the manual is typeset and printed.
1982 Electronics 24 Feb. 174/3 Only now, following beta testing at about a dozen installations, is the system ready for customer deliveries.
1982 Computerworld 8 Mar. 63/3 The system is currently being beta tested and general customer deliveries are expected to begin this July.
1985 Times 21 Mar. 39/1 (advt.) Problem solving together with alpha and beta testing of new products require a minimum of 2 years experience of IBM Assembler or Z80 programming.
1985 Austral. Personal Computer Nov. 77/1 The review software was a Beta-test version with a photocopied draft of the manual.
Draft additions 1993
[Abbreviation of Betamax n.] (With capital initial.) A name for one of the standard formats for videocassettes, originally called Betamax n.
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1977 Fortune Sept. 180/2 There was a brief attempt by Sony back in 1975 to get Matsushita to adopt its Beta format, but by then the larger company was convinced it was perfecting a superior machine.
1984 Listener 19 July 34/2 There are around 10,000 rental outlets for tapes, many already reluctantly stocking the same titles in two, or even three formats (VHS, Beta and V2000).
1987 Which? June 286/2 Beta is gradually disappearing but you may find a few models in the shops.
Draft additions 1997
beta-adrenergic adj. relating to or affecting the beta receptors.
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the world > life > the body > nervous system > substance of nervous system > [adjective] > specific adrenergic receptor
beta-adrenergic1959
1959 Pharmacol. Rev. 11 462 These data seem to provide verification of Ahlquist's division of α- and β-adrenergic receptors.
1964 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 19 Sept. 723/2 Beta-adrenergic blockade may be helpful in angina pectoris.
1994 Sci. News 22 Oct. 262/2 Volunteers received either a placebo pill or propanolol, a drug that lowers blood pressure by blocking beta-adrenergic stress hormones.
Draft additions September 2012
beta cellulose n. Biochemistry the portion of a cellulosic material that is soluble in alkaline solution and is re-precipitated by acids.See also alpha cellulose n. at alpha n. and adj. Compounds 2a, gamma cellulose n. at gamma n. and adj. Compounds 2b.
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1912 C. F. Cross & E. J. Bevan Res. on Cellulose III. ii. 23 The cellulose is fractionated by this treatment into:—α cellulose... β cellulose: soluble and reprecipitated by acids.
1946 Amer. Jrnl. Bot. 33 336/2 Another 50ml. sample was neutralized first with sulfuric acid to precipitate the beta cellulose.
2010 J. H. Speer Fund. Tree-ring Res. xi. 244 Cellulose can be broken down into three main components: alpha cellulose, beta cellulose, and gamma cellulose.
Draft additions August 2010
beta-amyloid n. Biochemistry a polypeptide derived from a larger membrane glycoprotein (amyloid precursor protein), which accumulates in the brain in Alzheimer's disease and certain other neurodegenerative diseases, typically forming amyloid plaques; also called amyloid beta; frequently attributive.
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1987 Lancet 14 Feb. 384/2 The beta-amyloid probe was sublocalised to the proximal region.
1993 N.Y. Times 9 Nov. c3/2 Dr. Roses believes that beta-amyloid buildup is a side effect of the disorder, rather that the key to the disease.
2008 V. Fortanasce Anti-Alzheimer's Prescription ix. 248 Some believe that by blocking the generation of beta-amyloid in the brain..they can successfully treat those with Alzheimer's disease.
Draft additions June 2004
beta customer n. Business a person or company (usually a potential purchaser) involved in beta-testing a product.
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1986 Network World 6 Oct. 4/2 Malone was told to sign up beta customers even though no resources were devoted to developing key product features. Three companies agreed to test the product.
2002 R. Adams Good Hard Kick in Ass ii. 49 Many AV Labs startups recruit their first group of beta customers during market validation.
Draft additions June 2016
beta-hydroxy acid n. Chemistry an organic compound containing a carboxylic acid (—COOH) and a hydroxyl (—OH) group attached to immediately adjacent carbon atoms; esp. salicylic acid (2-hydroxybenzoic acid), used in skincare products as an exfoliant and cleansing agent; abbreviated BHA.
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1895 Technol. Q. 8 196 It is here shown that dihydroaminocampholytic acid..is decomposed by nitrous acid into a tertiary beta hydroxy acid, C8H14(OH)(CO2H), and into campholytic acid.
1921 J. S. Chamberlain Textbk. Org. Chem. 242 When beta-hydroxy acids are heated alone, or with potassium hydroxide, water is lost from one molecule.
1995 Drug & Cosmetic Industry Feb. 16 Sisley..introduced a beta-hydroxy acid hydrating and line-smoothing cream after five years of research.
2014 Guardian (Nexis) 21 June (Weekend Suppl.) 65 Eight Hour is different in that it contains beta hydroxy acid, to de-flake lips and calm zits.
Draft additions June 2017
Chemistry. In the carbon chain of an organic molecule: designating the carbon atom occupying a position next but one to the atom bearing the main functional group; of or relating to chemical reactions occurring at this atom. Also: designating an atom or functional group attached to the beta carbon atom; (in the names of chemical compounds) having an additional distinguishing functional group attached to the beta carbon. Cf. alpha adj. 1b.In naphthalene ring compounds, denoting any of the four carbon atoms opposite to the point of fusion of the two benzene rings.
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1877 H. Watts Fownes's Man. Chem. (ed. 12) II. 575 There will be two modifications of each mono-derivative of naphthalene... Those modifications in which the substituted radicles [sic] occupies the place 1 (= 4, 5, or 8), are called α-derivatives; those in which it is placed at 2, 3, 6, or 7 are called β-derivatives.
1922 J. J. Sudborough Bernthsen's Text-bk. Org. Chem. (new ed.) ix. 225 In β-hydroxy acids 1 molecule of water is usually eliminated from 1 molecule of the acid, and an α-β-unsaturated acid is formed.
1937 F. C. Whitmore Org. Chem. 444 Diacetosuccinic ester, as a beta keto ester gives reactions like those of acetoacetic ester itself.
1952 Brit. Jrnl. Industr. Med. 9 127/2 The percentage of beta isomer in the alpha naphthylamine was about 4.
1969 Org. Photochem. 2 75 Acyclic α, β-unsaturated ketones photodimerize when substituted with an aromatic group in the beta position.
1991 Reason Dec. 18/1 Look, we know workers can get cancer from high doses of beta naphthalene or vinyl chloride.
2005 New Yorker 11 Apr. 44/2 A pair of British biochemists..reported that they had isolated another toxic compound in cycad seeds, beta-methylamino-L-alanine.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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