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bee

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bee

Main Entry:: ¹bee
Pronunciation:: \ˈbē\
Function:: noun
Etymology:: Middle English, from Old English bēo; akin to Old High German bīa bee, Old Irish bech, Lithuanian bitis
Date:: before 12th century

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 honey2: an eccentric notion : fancy

— bee·like

Listen to the pronunciation of beelike

\-ˌlīk\ adjective

— bee in one's bonnet

: ¹bee 2

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