ETYM Old Eng. bekene, AS. beácen, bęcen; akin to OS. bôkan, Fries. baken, beken, sign, signal, Dutch baak, Old High Germ. bouhhan, German bake; of unknown origin. Related to Beckon.
1. A fire (usually on a hill or tower) that can be seen from a distance; SYN. beacon fire.
2. A tower with a light that gives warning of shoals to passing ships; SYN. lighthouse, beacon light, pharos.

1. City in Iowa (USA); zip code 52534.
2. City in New York (USA); zip code 12508.

On an FDDI network, a special frame generated and passed along when a node detects a problem. See also frame (definition 2).

1. To guide with a beacon.
2. To shine like a beacon.