bee
BEE
Bee (noun) means a flying insect that collects pollen and nectar, and in many species produces honey and wax. Example: “We watched a bee buzz from flower to flower in the garden.”
noun
1
A flying insect that collects pollen and nectar, and in many species produces honey and wax.
"We watched a bee buzz from flower to flower in the garden."
"A bee landed on the flower and began gathering pollen."
"Bees are essential for pollinating many crops."
2
A gathering where people work together on a task, or compete, such as a spelling bee or quilting bee.
"Our village holds a quilting bee every winter in the church hall."
"The neighbours organised a bee to help the family repaint their fence."
"She won the regional spelling bee three years running."
How to use bee
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe stinging, pollen-collecting insect — or, in another sense, a community event where people gather to do something together or compete.
Common pairings
spelling bee
swarm of bees
busy as a bee
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Word forms
- Plural
- bees, been
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We watched a _____ buzz from flower to flower in the garden.
Etymology
From Old English beo, tracing back through Proto-Germanic to a very old Proto-Indo-European root simply meaning "bee."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for bee
See all rhymes for bee →Frequently asked questions
What does “bee” mean?
The word “bee” means a flying insect that collects pollen and nectar, and in many species produces honey and wax. In plain terms, the stinging, pollen-collecting insect — or, in another sense, a community event where people gather to do something together or compete.
How do you pronounce “bee”?
“Bee” is pronounced BEE (/ˈbiː/ in IPA).
How do you use “bee” in a sentence?
Here is “bee” used in a sentence: “A bee landed on the flower and began gathering pollen.”
What is another word for “bee”?
Words with a similar meaning to “bee” include king of insects.
What part of speech is “bee”?
“Bee” is a noun.
Where does the word “bee” come from?
The word “bee” comes from Old English. From Old English beo, tracing back through Proto-Germanic to a very old Proto-Indo-European root simply meaning "bee.".
Is “bee” a common word?
“Bee” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “bee” have?
“Bee” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a flying insect that collects pollen and nectar, and in many species produces honey and wax.
What is the difference between a bee and a wasp?
A bee is a flying insect that collects pollen and nectar and often produces honey and wax, and it tends to be rounder and hairier. A wasp is a slimmer, smoother relative that does not make honey and is generally more aggressive.
What is a spelling bee or a quilting bee?
In this sense a bee is a gathering where people come together to work on a task or to compete, such as a spelling bee, a quilting bee, or a sewing bee. The word names the social event, not the insect.
What is the difference between a bee and a bumblebee?
Bee is the general term for the pollen-collecting insect, while a bumblebee is one large, fuzzy, and typically loud type of bee. All bumblebees are bees, but not all bees are bumblebees.
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