Beam vs. Soffit — What's the Difference?

A long, sturdy piece of squared timber or metal used to support the roof or floor of a building

A soffit is an exterior or interior architectural feature, generally the horizontal, aloft underside of any construction element. Its archetypal form, sometimes incorporating or implying the projection of beams, is the underside of eaves (to connect a retaining wall to projecting edge(s) of the roof).

A ray or shaft of light

The underside of an architectural structure such as an arch, a balcony, or overhanging eaves.

A radiant or good-natured look or smile

The underside of a structural component, such as a beam, arch, staircase, or cornice.

Transmit (a radio signal or broadcast) in a specified direction

(architectural element) The visible underside of an arch, balcony, beam, cornice, staircase, vault or any other architectural element.

(of a light or light source) shine brightly

(pipe technology) The top point of the inside open section of a pipe or box conduit.

Smile radiantly

The under side of the subordinate parts and members of buildings, such as staircases, entablatures, archways, cornices, or the like. See Illust. of Lintel.

A squared-off log or a large, oblong piece of timber, metal, or stone used especially as a horizontal support in construction.

The underside of a part of a building (such as an arch or overhang or beam etc.)

A transverse structural member of a ship's frame, used to support a deck and to brace the sides against stress.

The breadth of a ship at the widest point.

The side of a ship

(Informal) The widest part of a person's hips

A steel tube or wooden roller on which the warp is wound in a loom.

An oscillating lever connected to an engine piston rod and used to transmit power to the crankshaft.

The bar of a balance from which weighing pans are suspended.

(Sports) A balance beam.

The main horizontal bar on a plow to which the share, coulter, and handles are attached.

One of the main stems of a deer's antlers.

A ray or shaft of light.

A concentrated stream of particles or a similar propagation of waves

A radio beam.

To radiate light; shine.

To smile expansively.

To emit or transmit

To express by means of a radiant smile

Any large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to its thickness, and prepared for use.

One of the principal horizontal structural members, usually of steel, timber, or concrete, of a building; one of the transverse members of a ship's frame on which the decks are laid — supported at the sides by knees in wooden ships and by stringers in steel ones.

(nautical) The maximum width of a vessel (note that a vessel with a beam of 15 foot can also be said to be 15 foot abeam).

(nautical) The direction across a vessel, perpendicular to fore-and-aft.

The crossbar of a mechanical balance, from the ends of which the scales are suspended.

The principal stem of the antler of a deer.

(literary) The pole of a carriage or chariot.

(textiles) A cylinder of wood, making part of a loom, on which weavers wind the warp before weaving and the cylinder on which the cloth is rolled, as it is woven.

The straight part or shank of an anchor.

The central bar of a plow, to which the handles and colter are secured, and to the end of which are attached the oxen or horses that draw it.

In steam engines, a heavy iron lever having an oscillating motion on a central axis, one end of which is connected with the piston rod from which it receives motion, and the other with the crank of the wheel shaft.

A ray or collection of approximately parallel rays emitted from the sun or other luminous body.

(figuratively) A ray; a gleam.

One of the long feathers in the wing of a hawk.

(music) A horizontal bar which connects the stems of two or more notes to group them and to indicate metric value.

(railway) An elevated rectangular dirt pile used to cheaply build an elevated portion of a railway.

(gymnastics) balance beam

(ambitransitive) To emit beams of light; to shine; to radiate.

To smile broadly or especially cheerfully.

(transitive) To furnish or supply with beams.

(transitive) To give the appearance of beams to.

To transmit matter or information via a high-tech wireless mechanism.

To transmit, especially by direct wireless means such as infrared.

To stretch something (for example, an animal hide) on a beam.

To put (something) on a beam.

To connect (musical notes) with a beam, or thick line, in music notation.

Any large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to its thickness, and prepared for use.

One of the principal horizontal timbers of a building or ship.

The width of a vessel; as, one vessel is said to have more beam than another.

The bar of a balance, from the ends of which the scales are suspended.

The principal stem or horn of a stag or other deer, which bears the antlers, or branches.

The pole of a carriage.

A cylinder of wood, making part of a loom, on which weavers wind the warp before weaving; also, the cylinder on which the cloth is rolled, as it is woven; one being called the fore beam, the other the back beam.

The straight part or shank of an anchor.

The main part of a plow, to which the handles and colter are secured, and to the end of which are attached the oxen or horses that draw it.

A heavy iron lever having an oscillating motion on a central axis, one end of which is connected with the piston rod from which it receives motion, and the other with the crank of the wheel shaft; - called also working beam or walking beam.

A ray or collection of parallel rays emitted from the sun or other luminous body; as, a beam of light, or of heat.

A ray; a gleam; as, a beam of comfort.

One of the long feathers in the wing of a hawk; - called also beam feather.

To send forth; to emit; - followed ordinarily by forth; as, to beam forth light.

To emit beams of light.

A signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides pilots in darkness or bad weather

Long thick piece of wood or metal or concrete, etc., used in construction

A column of light (as from a beacon)

A group of nearly parallel lines of electromagnetic radiation

(nautical) breadth amidships

A gymnastic apparatus used by women gymnasts

Smile radiantly; express joy through one's facial expression

Emit light; be bright, as of the sun or a light;

Express with a beaming face or smile;

Broadcast over the airwaves, as in radio or television;

Especially of the complexion: show a strong bright color, such as red or pink;

Experience a feeling of well-being or happiness, as from good health or an intense emotion;