1. The shore of a body of water, especially when sandy or pebbly.
2. The sand or pebbles on a shore.
3. The zone above the water line at a shore of a body of water, marked by an accumulation of sand, stone, or gravel that has been deposited by the tide or waves.

1. To run, haul, or bring ashore: beached the rowboat in front of the cabin; hooked a big bluefish but was unable to beach it.
2. To leave stranded or helpless.

[Perhaps Middle English beche, stream, from Old English bece.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.