bee

¹bee

noun \ˈbē\

Definition of BEE

1

: honeybee; broadly : 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

2

: an eccentric notion : fancy

— bee·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective

— bee in one's bonnet

: ¹bee 2

Origin of BEE

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

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Insect Terms

drone, entomology, gadfly, pismire, proboscis, vespine

Rhymes with BEE

b, be, c, cay, cee, Cree, d, dee, Dee, dree, e, fee, flea, flee, free, g, gee, ghee, glee, gree, he, key, Key, knee, lea, lee, me, mi, p, pea, pee, plea, pree, quay, re, Rhee, scree, sea, see, she, si, ski, spree, sri, t, tea, tee, the, thee, three, ti, tree, twee, Twi, v, vee, we, wee, whee, ye, z, zee

²bee

noun

Definition of BEE

: the letter b

First Known Use of BEE

14th century

Other Alphabet Terms

cuneiform, linear, minuscule, pictograph, rune, symbology, wedge

³bee

noun

Definition of BEE

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

Origin of BEE

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

First Known Use: 1769

BEE

abbreviation

Definition of BEE

bachelor of electrical engineering

Other Education Terms

baccalaureate, colloquium, corequisite, dissertation, monograph, pedant, practicum, survey course, thesis

bee

noun \ˈbē\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of BEE

: 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

bee

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Leaf-cutting bee (Anthidium)—M.W.F. Tweedie—Natural History Photographic Agency/EB Inc.

Any of some 20,000 insect species belonging to the superfamily Apoidea (order Hymenoptera), including the familiar bumblebee. Adults range in size from about 0.08 to 1.6 in. (2 mm–4 cm). Bees are related to wasps, but, unlike wasps, which can eat other insects, most bees are entirely dependent on flowers for their food. Male bees are usually short-lived and never collect pollen; female bees make and provision the nest and usually have special anatomical structures for carrying pollen. Most species are solitary. The so-called killer bee, an Africanized subspecies of Apis mellifera (see honeybee), reached the U.S. from Mexico c. 1990; killer bees react quickly and attack in number. See also Karl von Frisch.