1. bēta, ae (bētis, is, Ser. Samm. 54, 9), f. [hence Fr. bette; Engl. beet], a vegetable, the beet: Beta vulgaris, Linn.; Plin. 19, 8, 40, § 132; 20, 8, 27, § 69; Col. 10, 254; 10, 326; 11, 3, 17 and 42; Pall. Febr. 24, 10; * Plaut. Ps. 3, 2, 26; * Cic. Fam. 7, 26, 2; cf. * Cat. 67, 21; Mart. 13, 13; 3, 47, 9; Isid. Orig. 17, 10, 15.
† 2. bēta, n. indecl. (beta, ae, f., Aus. Technopaegn. c. Litt. Mon. v. 13), = βῆτα, the Greek name of the second letter of the alphabet (pure Lat. be; v. B): hoc discunt omnes ante alpha et beta puellae, * Juv. 14, 209.
Hence, prov., the second in any thing (as alpha is the first), Mart. 5, 26.