Definition of "beckon"

beckon

/ˈbɛkən/

verb
third-person singular simple present beckons, present participle beckoning, simple past and past participle beckoned
1. (transitive, intransitive) To wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer.
  Quotations
  His distant friends, he beckons near.
  1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […]
  It beckons you to go away with it.
  c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene iv]
2. (transitive, intransitive) To seem attractive and inviting
noun
plural beckons
1. A sign made without words; a beck.
  Quotations
  At the first beckon.
  c. 1734, Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke, A Dissertation on Parties
  He turn to me, make a beckon with the key in his hand.
  2020, Abi Daré, The Girl With The Louding Voice, Sceptre, page 110
2. A children's game similar to hide and seek in which children who have been "caught" may escape if they see another hider beckon to them.