Faro

[Noelia]

What's the difference between a beacon and a lighthouse? Both seem to be "faro" in Spanish

Noelia

[Robie]

A lighthouse is a beacon but I think that a beacon can also be some other kind of warning light or light to mark a spot. For instance, when I teach people to scuba dive at night, we set two lights on the shore to help us mark our entry/exit from the water. These lights could also be beacons. In other words, beacon is more generic than lighthouse.

[Noelia]

Ah great, so the beacon is the light itself, and the lighthouse -as the name shows- is where the light is generated, the tower, when speaking about beacons that guide ships

[johnr]

interesante mi diccionario dice ....

beacon –noun
1. a guiding or warning signal, as a light or fire, esp. one in an elevated position.
2. a tower or hill used for such purposes.
3. a lighthouse, signal buoy, etc., on a shore or at a dangerous area at sea to warn and guide vessels.
4. Navigation.
a. radio beacon.
b. a radar device at a fixed location that, upon receiving a radar pulse, transmits a reply pulse that enables the original sender to determine his or her position relative to the fixed location.
5. a person, act, or thing that warns or guides.
6. a person or thing that illuminates or inspires: The Bible has been our beacon during this trouble.
–verb (used with object)
7. to serve as a beacon to; warn or guide.
8. to furnish or mark with beacons: a ship assigned to beacon the shoals.
–verb (used without object)
9. to serve or shine as a beacon: A steady light beaconed from the shore.