beta

 
Pronunciation: /ˈbiːtə/

noun

  • the second letter of the Greek alphabet (Β, β), transliterated as ‘b’.
  • [as modifier] denoting the second of a series of items, categories, forms of a chemical compound, etc.: beta carotene beta blocker
  • British a second-class mark given for a piece of work or an examination paper.
  • informalshort for beta test.
  • (Beta) [followed by Latin genitive] Astronomy the second (typically second-brightest) star in a constellation: Beta Virginis
  • [as modifier] relating to beta decay or beta particles: beta emitters
  • (also beta coefficient) a measure of the movement in price of a security relative to the stock market as a whole, used to indicate possible risk: a fund with a beta of 0.58 is less volatile

Origin:

via Latin from Greek