1. [n]  tuft of strong filaments by which e.g. a mussel makes itself fast to a fixed surface
2. [n]  hairy growth on or near the face of certain mammals
3. [n]  the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face
4. [n]  a tuft or growth of hairs or bristles on certain plants such as iris or grasses
5. [v]  go along the rim, like a beard around the chin; "Houses bearded the top of the heights"

1. \Beard\, n. [OE. berd, AS. beard; akin to Fries. berd, D.
   baard, G. bart, Lith. barzda, OSlav. brada, Pol. broda, Russ.
   boroda, L. barba, W. barf. Cf. 1st {Barb}.]
   1. The hair that grows on the chin, lips, and adjacent parts
      of the human face, chiefly of male adults.
   
   2. (Zo["o]l.)
      (a) The long hairs about the face in animals, as in the
          goat.
      (b) The cluster of small feathers at the base of the beak
          in some birds
      (c) The appendages to the jaw in some Cetacea, and to the
          mouth or jaws of some fishes.
      (d) The byssus of certain shellfish, as the muscle.
      (e) The gills of some bivalves, as the oyster.
      (f) In insects, the hairs of the labial palpi of moths and
          butterflies.
   
   3. (Bot.) Long or stiff hairs on a plant; the awn; as, the
      beard of grain.
   
   4. A barb or sharp point of an arrow or other instrument,
      projecting backward to prevent the head from being easily
      drawn out.
   
   5. That part of the under side of a horse's lower jaw which
      is above the chin, and bears the curb of a bridle.
   
   6. (Print.) That part of a type which is between the shoulder
      of the shank and the face.
   
   7. An imposition; a trick. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
   
   {Beard grass} (Bot.), a coarse, perennial grass of different
      species of the genus {Andropogon}.
   
   {To one's beard}, to one's face; in open defiance.
   
   

2. \Beard\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Bearded}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Bearding}.]
   1. To take by the beard; to seize, pluck, or pull the beard
      of (a man), in anger or contempt.
   
   2. To oppose to the gills; to set at defiance.
   
            No admiral, bearded by three corrupt and dissolute
            minions of the palace, dared to do more than mutter
            something about a court martial.      --Macaulay.
   
   3. To deprive of the gills; -- used only of oysters and
      similar shellfish.
   
   

The mode of wearing it was definitely prescribed to the Jews (Lev. 19:27; 21:5). Hence the import of Ezekiel's (5:1-4) description of the "razor" i.e., the agents of an angry providence being used against the guilty nation of the Jews. It was a part of a Jew's daily toilet to anoint his beard with oil and perfume (Ps. 133:2). Beards were trimmed with the most fastidious care (2 Sam. 19:24), and their neglet was an indication of deep sorrow (Isa. 15:2; Jer. 41:5). The custom was to shave or pluck off the hair as a sign of mourning (Isa. 50:6; Jer. 48:37; Ezra 9:3). The beards of David's ambassadors were cut off by hanun (2 Sam. 10:4) as a mark of indignity.

On the other hand, the Egyptians carefully shaved the hair off their faces, and they compelled their slaves to do so also (Gen. 41:14).