A beacon is a light or signal that guides or warns people, especially ships or aircraft. It can also mean someone or something that acts as an inspiring example.
“Beacon” comes from Old English “beacen,” meaning a sign or signal. It is related to Germanic words for symbols and banners used to guide people from far away.
Before GPS, beacons were the original navigation system—fires on hills, lighthouses, and signal towers. Today, we still use the word metaphorically for people or ideas that guide us through confusion.
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