Collins English-English Dictionary

be [biː]

1. 1. vi. [intr] to have presence in the realm of perceived reality; exist; live

   I think, therefore I am

   not all that is can be understood

2. 2. vi. [used in the perfect or past perfect tenses only] to pay a visit; go

   have you been to Spain?

3. 3. vi. to take place; occur

   my birthday was last Thursday

4. 4. vi. [copula] used as a linking verb between the subject of a sentence and its noun or adjective complement or complementing phrase. In this case be expresses the relationship of either essential or incidental equivalence or identity (John is a man; John is a musician) or specifies an essential or incidental attribute (honey is sweet; Susan is angry). It is also used with an adverbial complement to indicate a relationship of location in space or time (Bill is at the office; the dance is on Saturday)

5. 5. vi. [takes a present participle] forms the progressive present tense

   the man is running

6. 6. vi. [takes a past participle] forms the passive voice of all transitive verbs and (archaically) certain intransitive ones

   a good film is being shown on television tonight

   I am done

7. 7. vi. [takes an infinitive] expresses intention, expectation, supposition, or obligation

   the president is to arrive at 9.30

   you are not to leave before I say so

8. 8. vi. [takes a past participle] forms the perfect or past perfect tense of certain intransitive verbs of motion, such as go or come

   the last train is gone

9. 9. vi. [Etymology] Old English beon; related to Old High German bim am, Latin fui I have been, Greek phuein to bring forth, Sanskrit bhavati he is

be

1. 1. the internet domain name for Belgium