The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word RAYS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
R
A
Y
S
More clues leading to the result RAYS
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "beams" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case beams = rays.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does RAYS mean?
RAYS noun- A beam of light or radiation.
- A rib-like reinforcement of bone or cartilage in a fish's fin.
- One of the spheromeres of a radiate, especially one of the arms of a starfish or an ophiuran.
- A radiating part of a flower or plant; the marginal florets of a compound flower, such as an aster or a sunflower; one of the pedicels of an umbel or other circular flower cluster; radius.
- Sight; perception; vision; from an old theory of vision, that sight was something which proceeded from the eye to the object seen.
- A line extending indefinitely in one direction from a point.
- A tiny amount.
- To emit something as if in rays.
- To radiate as if in rays.
- A marine fish with a flat body, large wing-like fins, and a whip-like tail.
- To arrange.
- To dress, array (someone).
- To stain or soil; to defile.
- The letter ⟨/⟩, one of two which represent the r sound in Pitman shorthand.
- A syllable used in solfège to represent the second note of a major scale.