beta

be·ta  (bt, b-)

n.

1. The second letter of the Greek alphabet. See Table at alphabet.

2. The second item in a series or system of classification.

3. A mathematical measure of the sensitivity of rates of return on a portfolio or a given stock compared with rates of return on the market as a whole. A beta of 1.0 indicates that an asset closely follows the market; a beta greater than 1.0 indicates greater volatility than the market.

4. Physics

a. A beta particle.

b. A beta ray.

5. Chemistry

a. The second position from a designated carbon atom in an organic molecule at which an atom or a radical may be substituted.

b. An isomeric variation of a chemical compound. Used in combination: beta-estradiol.

6. Computer Science A beta version.

---

[Greek bta, of Phoenician origin; see byt in Semitic roots.]

---

beta

Noun

1. the second letter in the Greek alphabet (Β, β)

2. the second in a group or series

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	beta - the 2nd letter of the Greek alphabet Greek alphabet - the alphabet used by ancient Greeks alphabetic character, letter of the alphabet, letter - the conventional characters of the alphabet used to represent speech; "his grandmother taught him his letters"
	2.	Beta - beets genus Beta caryophylloid dicot genus - genus of relatively early dicotyledonous plants including mostly flowers Chenopodiaceae, family Chenopodiaceae, goosefoot family - includes spinach and beets beet, Beta vulgaris, common beet - biennial Eurasian plant usually having a swollen edible root; widely cultivated as a food crop
Adj.	1.	beta - second in order of importance; "the candidate, considered a beta male, was perceived to be unable to lead his party to victory" important, of import - of great significance or value; "important people"; "the important questions of the day"
	2.	beta - preliminary or testing stage of a software or hardware product; "a beta version"; "beta software" explorative, exploratory - serving in or intended for exploration or discovery; "an exploratory operation"; "exploratory reconnaissance"; "digging an exploratory well in the Gulf of Mexico"; "exploratory talks between diplomats"