Chem.
Beryllium (symbol Be).

(bē, unstressed bi) v.i. been, be·ing
Present indicative: sing. am, are (Archaic art), is, plural are; past indicative: sing. was, were (Archaic wast or wert), was, plural were; present subjunctive: be; past subjunctive: sing. were, were (Archaic wert), were, plural were
1. As a substantive the verb be is used to mean: a To have existence, truth, or actuality: God is; There are bears in the zoo. b To take place; happen: The party is next week. c To stay or continue: She was here for one week. d To belong; befall: often with to or unto: Joy be unto you.
2. As a copulative verb be forms a link between the subject and predicate nominative or qualifying word or phrase in declarative, interrogative, and imperative sentences; it also forms infinitive and participial phrases: Money is nothing to me; The book is too expensive; He is sick; the pleasure of being here.
3. As an auxiliary verb be is used: a With the present participle of other verbs to express continuous or progressive action: I am working. b With the past participle of transitive verbs to form the passive voice: He was injured. c With the past participle of intransitive verbs to form the perfect tense: Christ is come; I am finished. d With the infinitive or present participle to express purpose, duty, possibility, futurity, etc.: We are to start on Monday; We are leaving Monday.The verb is defective, and its conjugation is made up of fragments of three independent verbs, furnishing be, am (are, is), was (were), respectively. ◆ For usage as to the cases of personal pronouns following impersonal forms of the verb to be, see note under ME. [OE bēon]

Used to form transitive verbs from nouns, adjectives, and verbs. [OE be-, bi-, var. of bī near, by]