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# beta

«beta» in Mova's school dictionary: **the second letter of the Greek alphabet, after alpha** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 2 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

noun (beta, betas); adjective (beta — of a version)

### meaning for a pupil

1) Beta (β) is the second letter of the Greek alphabet, after alpha. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beta/#m1)

2) A beta version of a game, app or program is an early version that is being tested by users before the final one. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beta/#m2)

3) (science) Beta is used in names, like beta rays (a kind of radiation) and beta-carotene (the orange colour in carrots). [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beta/#m3)

4) (slang) «Beta» is used online as an insult for a weak or shy person; it is unkind. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beta/#m4)

### sense in the lessons

In maths and science lessons, Greek letters label angles and quantities: α (alpha), β (beta), γ (gamma). «Alphabet» comes from alpha + beta. In computing and gaming, «beta testing» means trying out a new program to find bugs. In science later, beta radiation is one of three kinds (alpha, beta, gamma). The slang meaning is a put-down from online talk; it is not kind. Phrases: «beta version», «beta test», «alpha and beta», «beta-carotene».

### examples

- β is the Greek letter beta. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beta/#x1)
- «Alphabet» comes from the Greek letters alpha and beta. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beta/#x2)
- My brother joined the beta test of a new game. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beta/#x3)
- The app is still in beta, so it has some bugs. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beta/#x4)
- Carrots get their orange colour from beta-carotene. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beta/#x5)
- In the diagram, angle beta is 40 degrees. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beta/#x6)
- (slang) Calling someone «beta» online is a mean put-down. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beta/#x7)

### note

Say it "BEE-ta" (UK) or "BAY-ta" (US). Plural «betas». In maths, β is a label for a number or angle, not a fixed value. «Alpha» (first, top) and «beta» (second, test) often appear together.

### In the corpora

- [Carrots are orange because of beta-carotene, which the body turns into vitamin A, needed for the eyes.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/chemistry/28-colour-in-nature/10/)
- [In Hindi and some other Indian languages «beta» is a loving word for a child.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/religion-ethics/88-vows-oaths-and-promises-in-faith/20/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «beta» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beta/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.