noun
hornet
HAW-niht
noun
1
A large, aggressive wasp with a painful sting.
"A hornet's nest hung from the eaves of the barn."
"He was stung twice by a hornet while mowing the lawn."
2
Figuratively, someone who repeatedly makes small but relentless attacks.
"The critic was a hornet, stinging every new release in his column."
How to Use Hornet
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA large stinging wasp, or figuratively a persistently annoying critic.
Common pairings
hornet's nest
stir up a hornet's nest
Word Forms
hornets plural, Hornets plural
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A _____'s nest hung from the eaves of the barn.
Etymology
From Old English hyrnetu, from a Germanic root related to "horn" — the insect was named for its horn-like antennae.