Beta
|Be-ta|
🇺🇸
/ˈbeɪtə/
🇬🇧
/ˈbiːtə/
second, testing phase
Etymology
'Beta' originates from Greek, specifically the letter 'Β', where it was the second letter of the Greek alphabet.
'Β' transformed into the Latin letter 'B', and eventually became the modern English word 'Beta'.
Initially, it meant 'the second letter of the Greek alphabet', but over time it evolved into its current meanings, including a software testing phase and a stock volatility measure.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the second letter of the Greek alphabet (Β, β), transliterated as 'b'.
The symbol β is often used in scientific equations.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a version of a product, especially software, that is made available for testing before its official release.
The beta version of the app is available for download.
Synonyms
Noun 3
a measure of a stock's volatility in relation to the overall market.
The stock has a beta of 1.2, indicating it's more volatile than the market.
Synonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/07/07 07:22