beta
beta — noun
1. the Greek symbol that comes after alpha, written as B in capitals and β in lower
the Greek symbol that comes after alpha, written as B in capitals and β in lowercase.
Ms. Wu wrote beta beside the angle on the classroom screen.
beta as a written Greek-letter symbol
In the chart, beta stands between alpha and gamma.
position in the Greek alphabet
Leo copied beta wrongly and made the tail too long.
The worksheet labels the second answer line with beta, not B.
文法句型
the Greek letter beta
beta between alpha and gamma
用法筆記
Often written as the symbol β in maths and science texts. Learners also meet it when Greek letters are used to label steps, angles, or options.
常見錯誤
2. a nearly finished form of software or another product that selected users try be
a nearly finished form of software or another product that selected users try before the full public release.
The company invited 500 players to try the beta this weekend.
join or try + the beta
Mina found two bugs while using the beta of the map app.
beta of + product
Only paid members can download the beta before July.
After the beta, the team will open the game worldwide.
A public beta helped the bank test its new phone service.
- preview
broader; can mean any early look, not always a bug-testing stage
- test build
technical; common among developers and game players
- prototype
often earlier and less complete than a beta
- final release
the finished version offered to everyone
- stable version
stresses reliability rather than ongoing testing
文法句型
join the beta
beta of + product
public beta
用法筆記
Usually countable, often with words like 'public', 'closed', or the product name. Distinguish from adjective/1: this sense names the version itself, while adjective/1 describes a product as being in that stage.
常見錯誤
beta — adjective
1. describing a product that is past alpha and still being checked before its publi
describing a product that is past alpha and still being checked before its public launch.
Our beta app still freezes when users upload large photos.
beta + app
The lab sent beta headphones to twenty runners for feedback.
beta used before a hardware noun
A beta build went live for school staff on Monday.
Kim tested the beta game on her old laptop last night.
Beta tools often change quickly before the final release.
- pre-release
general term for something not yet officially launched
- experimental
emphasises trying things out, not necessarily the alpha-beta sequence
- unfinished
plain description; does not specifically suggest user testing
文法句型
beta + noun (app, build, version, software)
in beta
用法筆記
Usually placed before nouns such as 'app', 'build', 'version', and 'software'. Distinguish from noun/2: noun/2 is the version itself, while this sense modifies the product name.
常見錯誤
2. describing someone who is more comfortable following than leading and who can se
describing someone who is more comfortable following than leading and who can seem shy or not very sure of themself.
Online fans called Owen beta after he let his friends make every plan.
call + someone + beta
Mika thinks her brother is too beta to argue with the coach.
be + beta
On the show, the beta boyfriend always waited for Viraj to decide.
During group work, Ben seemed beta and let Eva choose every role.
In the comic, a beta office worker follows every order from his boss.
- submissive
more formal and stronger; suggests giving in to others
- passive
broader; can describe someone who avoids taking action
- unassertive
focuses on lack of confidence in speaking up
文法句型
call + someone + beta
be beta
beta + noun (male, boyfriend, worker)
用法筆記
Common in internet and pop-psychology talk, especially in phrases like 'beta male'. It judges a person's social role or confidence, not software stages; compare adjective/1.