drone
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1drone

noun \ˈdrōn\

Definition of DRONE

1
: a stingless male bee (as of the honeybee) that has the role of mating with the queen and does not gather nectar or pollen
2
: one that lives on the labors of others : parasite
3
: an unmanned aircraft or ship guided by remote control
4
a : drudge 1
b : drudge 2

Origin of DRONE

Middle English, from Old English drān; akin to Old High German treno drone, Greek thrēnos dirge
First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Insect Terms

entomology, gadfly, pismire, proboscis, vespine

2drone

verb
droneddron·ing

Definition of DRONE

intransitive verb
1
a : to make a sustained deep murmuring, humming, or buzzing sound <droning bees>
b : to talk in a persistently dull or monotonous tone <droning on and on about his health>
2
: to pass, proceed, or act in a dull, drowsy, or indifferent manner <the afternoon droned on>
transitive verb
1
: to utter or pronounce with a drone
2
: to pass or spend in dull or monotonous activity or in idleness
dron·er noun
dron·ing·ly \ˈdrō-niŋ-lē\ adverb

Examples of DRONE

  1. We could hear wasps droning in the garden.
  2. <the sound of droning bees all around us>

First Known Use of DRONE

circa 1520

3drone

noun

Definition of DRONE

1
: a deep sustained or monotonous sound : hum
2
: an instrument or part of an instrument (as one of the fixed-pitch pipes of a bagpipe) that sounds a continuous unvarying tone

First Known Use of DRONE

circa 1520

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