bee

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈbē How to pronounce bee (audio)
Synonyms of beenext
1
: any of numerous hymenopterous insects (superfamily Apoidea) that differ from the related wasps especially in the heavier hairier body and in having sucking as well as chewing mouthparts, that feed on pollen and nectar, and that store both and often also honey see africanized bee, bumblebee, carpenter bee, honeybee, sweat bee
2
: an eccentric notion : fancy
beelike
ˈbē-ˌlīk How to pronounce bee (audio)
adjective

bee

2 of 4

noun (2)

: the letter b

bee

3 of 4

noun (3)

: a gathering of people for a specific purpose
a quilting bee

BEE

4 of 4

abbreviation

bachelor of electrical engineering
Phrases
bee in one's bonnet
: bee entry 1 sense 2

Synonyms

Noun (1)

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of bee in a Sentence

Noun (1) she got a sudden bee to quit her job and move to South Carolina
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Or sharing simpler pieces of information, like dancing bees do? —Carl Zimmer, New York Times, 7 May 2024 But Arizona's native bees would never swarm like those honeybees. —Kaely Monahan, The Arizona Republic, 6 May 2024 When nest temperatures reach 96.8 degrees or higher, however, bees struggle to survive, the findings suggest. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 May 2024 Spray only at a time of day when bees are not active. —Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2024 Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds are attracted to their nectar. —Steve Bender, Southern Living, 3 May 2024 And in the United States, bees colonies have grown. —Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 May 2024 Female honey bees serve as worker bees and queen bees, while male honey bees serve as drones. —Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 24 Apr. 2024 With a cocktail of honey and 72.6% black bee propolis (a resin-like material made by bees), this toner boasts anti-inflammatory and antibacterial benefits. —Kiana Murden, Vogue, 24 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bee.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English bēo; akin to Old High German bīa bee, Old Irish bech, Lithuanian bitis

Noun (3)

perhaps from English dialect been help given by neighbors, from Middle English bene prayer, boon, from Old English bēn prayer — more at boon entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1769, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bee was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing bee

Dictionary Entries Near bee

BEE

bee

bee's knees

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Bee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bee. Accessed 15 May. 2024.

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Kids Definition

bee

1 of 2 noun
ˈbē How to pronounce bee (audio)
: any of numerous insects (as the honeybees and bumblebees) that feed on pollen and nectar and sometimes produce honey and that differ from the wasps especially in the heavier hairier body and in having sucking as well as chewing mouthparts

bee

2 of 2 noun
: a gathering of people for a specific purpose
a quilting bee
Etymology

Noun

Old English bēo "bee"

Noun

perhaps from a dialect word been "help given by neighbors," derived from Old English bēn "prayer"

Medical Definition

bee

noun
ˈbē How to pronounce bee (audio)
: honeybee
broadly : any of numerous hymenopteran insects (superfamily Apoidea) that differ from the related wasps especially in the heavier hairier body and in having sucking as well as chewing mouthparts, that feed on pollen and nectar, and that store both and often also honey see africanized bee

More from Merriam-Webster on bee

Nglish: Translation of bee for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of bee for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bee

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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