• Beta

    Pronunciation

    • UK IPA: /ˈbiːtÉ™/
    • US enPR: bāʹtÉ™, IPA: /ˈbeɪtÉ™/
    • Rhymes: -iːtÉ™, -eɪtÉ™

    Origin

    From Ancient Greek βῆτα

    Full definition of beta

    Adjective

    beta

    1. Identifying a molecular position in an organic chemical compound.
    2. Designates the second in an order of precedence.
    3. (computing) Preliminary; prerelease. Refers to an incomplete version of a product released for initial testing.
    4. (of a person, object or action) associated with the beta male/female archetype.

    Derived terms

    terms derived from beta (adjective)

    Noun

    beta

    (plural betas)
    1. The name of the second letter of the Greek alphabet (Î’,  Î²), preceded by alpha (Α,  Î±) and followed by gamma, (Γ,  Î³). In modern Greek it represents the Voiced labiodental fricative sound of v found in the English words have and vase.
    2. Used in marking scheme: α, β, γ or α+, α, α-, β etc.
    3. (finance) Average sensitivity of a security's price to overall securities market prices.
    4. (computing) The phase of development after alpha testing and before launch, in which software, while not complete, has been released to potential users for testing.
    5. (computing) A computer program in such phase; a preliminary version.
      • 2007, Michael Lopp, Managing Humans (page 107)He quickly deduced our goal—ship a quality beta—but he also quickly discerned that we had no idea about the quality of the product because of our pile of untriaged bugs.
    6. (climbing) Information about a route which may aid someone in climbing it.
    7. (physics) A beta particle or beta ray.
    8. A beta fish, of the genus Betta.
    9. A beta male.
      • 2006, Catherine Mann, Blaze of Glory, Harlequin (2006), ISBN 9781459228252, unnumbered page:“I guess in your psychological language of alpha males and beta males, I would be firmly in the camp that prefers the more laid-back betas,” she took a deep breath, “like your father.”
      • 2010, L. A. Banks, "Dog Tired (of the Drama!)", in Blood Lite II: Overbite (ed. Kevin J. Anderson), Gallery Books (2010), ISBN 9781439187654, page 121:“They want sexy, virile alpha males, yes? But that doesn't come with sensitive and loyal and all of that. That's a beta. A frickin' collie, Lola. ...
      • 2010, Terry Spear, Wolf Fever, Sourcebooks Casablanca (2010), ISBN 9781402237577, page 24:She'd always had a thing for alpha males. Not that she had any intention of being bossed around, even if one had her best interests at heart. Her fascination with alphas was that they were a challenge. Betas didn't hold much of an appeal.

    Verb

    1. (computing) To preliminarily release computer software for initial testing prior to final release.
    2. (chiefly Internet) To beta-read a text.

    Anagrams

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