What is a "bead"?

A bead is a small, usually spherical, piece of material such as glass, plastic, wood, or stone that is pierced for stringing or threading together with others to form jewelry or decorative items. Beads come in a wide variety of colors, shapes, sizes, and textures, and can be used to create intricate and beautiful designs. They have been used for decoration and adornment for thousands of years and continue to be a popular material for jewelry-making and crafting.