Be /(bē)/

Be

v. i.

imp. Was; p. p. Been; p. pr. & vb. n. Being

  1. To exist actually, or in the world of fact; to have existence.
    To be contents his natural desire.
    To be, or not to be: that is the question.
  2. To exist in a certain manner or relation, -- whether as a reality or as a product of thought; to exist as the subject of a certain predicate, that is, as having a certain attribute, or as belonging to a certain sort, or as identical with what is specified, -- a word or words for the predicate being annexed; as, to be happy; to be here; to be large, or strong; to be an animal; to be a hero; to be a nonentity; three and two are five; annihilation is the cessation of existence; that is the man.
  3. To take place; to happen; as, the meeting was on Thursday.
  4. To signify; to represent or symbolize; to answer to.
    The field is the world.
    — Matt. xiii. 38.
    The seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
    — Rev. i. 20.

Phrases & Compounds
Be it so
a phrase of supposition, equivalent to suppose it to be so; or of permission, signifying let it be so.
If so be
in case.
To be from
to have come from; as, from what place are you? I am from Chicago.
To let be
to omit, or leave untouched; to let alone.