noun
Common
drone
drohn
Drone (noun) means an unmanned aircraft or vehicle controlled remotely or by autopilot. Example: “The company used a drone to film the wedding from above.”
noun
1
An unmanned aircraft or vehicle controlled remotely or by autopilot.
"The company used a drone to film the wedding from above."
"Drones are increasingly used for crop monitoring on farms."
"The farmer sent a drone over the field to check the fences."
2
A male bee that does no work in the hive; by extension, a person who does menial or unthinking work.
"Worker bees outnumber the drones in a hive."
"He felt like just another drone in the corporate machine."
"In autumn the worker bees push the drones out of the hive."
verb
1
To make a continuous low humming sound, or to speak in a flat, monotonous voice.
"The air conditioner droned in the background all night."
"The lecturer droned on for an hour without pausing."
"Somewhere behind us a plane droned across the evening sky."
How to use drone
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost often used today for a remote-controlled flying vehicle, but also a lazy worker, a male bee, or a dull continuous sound.
Common pairings
fly a drone
drone strike
drone on
a low drone
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Word forms
- Plural
- drones
- Third person singular
- drones
- Past tense
- droned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The company used a _____ to film the wedding from above.
Etymology
From Old English drān, an old Germanic word for the male bee — the "buzzing" and "aircraft" senses both grew from this root over time.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for drone
See all rhymes for drone →Frequently asked questions
What does “drone” mean?
The word “drone” means an unmanned aircraft or vehicle controlled remotely or by autopilot. In plain terms, most often used today for a remote-controlled flying vehicle, but also a lazy worker, a male bee, or a dull continuous sound.
How do you pronounce “drone”?
“Drone” is pronounced drohn (/dɹoʊn/ in IPA).
How do you use “drone” in a sentence?
Here is “drone” used in a sentence: “The company used a drone to film the wedding from above.”
What part of speech is “drone”?
Depending on how it is used, “drone” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “drone” come from?
The word “drone” comes from Old English. From Old English drān, an old Germanic word for the male bee — the "buzzing" and "aircraft" senses both grew from this root over time.
Is “drone” a common word?
“Drone” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “drone” have?
“Drone” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an unmanned aircraft or vehicle controlled remotely or by autopilot.
What is the difference between a drone and a UAV?
In everyday English they refer to the same thing: drone is the common word for an unmanned aircraft, while UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) is the technical and regulatory term. Drone is also broader, covering remotely controlled vehicles in other settings, whereas UAV is aviation-specific.
Is a quadcopter a drone?
Yes. A drone is any unmanned aircraft or vehicle controlled remotely or by autopilot, so consumer quadcopters, fixed-wing mapping aircraft, and military UAVs all qualify. In everyday speech, though, "drone" most often calls to mind small rotor-based camera aircraft.
What is a drone in beekeeping?
In a beehive, a drone is a male bee that does no work in the hive — it neither forages nor builds comb. By extension, a person who does menial or unthinking work is sometimes called a drone, as in "office drone".
