honeycomb

1 of 2

noun

hon·​ey·​comb ˈhə-nē-ˌkōm How to pronounce honeycomb (audio)
1
: a mass of hexagonal wax cells built by honeybees in their nest to contain their brood and stores of honey
2
: something that resembles a honeycomb in structure or appearance
especially : a strong lightweight cellular structural material

honeycomb

2 of 2

verb

honeycombed; honeycombing; honeycombs

transitive verb

1
a
: to cause to be full of cavities like a honeycomb
b
: to make into a checkered pattern : fret
2
a
: to penetrate into every part : fill

intransitive verb

: to become pitted, checked, or cellular

Examples of honeycomb in a Sentence

Noun One of the honeycombs was empty.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Seasoned oak imparts vanilla, cinnamon and honeycomb from nose to palate, with soft tannins and succulent, spiced fruits leading to a luxuriously long finish. Lela London, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Our group got to hold the frames of the hives and bees in our gloved hands, followed by raw honeycomb tasting. Michael Goldstein, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Enjoy it, Isa says, with the cafe’s honeycomb bread, filled with cheese and drizzled with honey, samosas or pastries. Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 22 Feb. 2024 Faux-leather vinyl upholstery wrapped around the steering wheel and seats, honeycomb floor mats, climate control by Vintage Air, and seat heaters all swaddle the interior in premium touchpoints. Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 14 Feb. 2024 Then, the bees store the final product in honeycomb cells.4 Read on to learn about the health-protective powers of honey, how to shop for the best varieties, and ways to add the sweetener to meals, snacks, and drinks. Cynthia Sass, Mph, Health, 13 Dec. 2023 Each honeycomb is framed with light-gray Woodbury granite from Vermont, and filling each frame is a slab of white, gray-veined marble, one-and-one-quarter-inch thick, quarried in Danby, not far from my home in Vermont. Brian T. Allen, National Review, 8 Feb. 2024 The open honeycomb weaves of this Parachute Waffle Towel (also available as a hand towel) offer a lightweight, airy feel that streamlines the drying process, so there’s no need to worry about musty towels stinking up your home. Sarah Kester, Travel + Leisure, 3 Jan. 2024 The front seats are carbon buckets stitched with Audi’s honeycomb pattern, and the center console bears a plaque with the individual number of the car from the series of 660. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 6 Feb. 2024
Verb
Then there are Gaza’s hospitals, which Israel says have been used by Hamas for military purposes and are honeycombed by tunnels used by its fighters. Steven Erlanger, New York Times, 13 Dec. 2023 The Israel Defense Forces, or IDF, is now inside Gaza City, fighting Hamas above and below ground — among civilians, around hospitals, schools and mosques — in areas the IDF says are honeycombed with tunnels. Alex Horton, Washington Post, 11 Nov. 2023 But the ground operation is entering a perilous stage, with Israeli soldiers advancing in an urban landscape that is honeycombed with tunnels and home to many Palestinians. Andrés R. Martínez, New York Times, 6 Nov. 2023 In locations visited by Washington Post journalists, workers in flip-flops and torn T-shirts, including some who appeared to be teenagers, crowded into huge open pits or descended into the tunnels that honeycomb the ground. Arlette Bashizi, Washington Post, 5 July 2023 The surrounding landscape is honeycombed with caverns and underground creeks. Eric Boodman, STAT, 18 Apr. 2023 But if astrobiology has revealed that Earth is honeycombed with life, the opposite seems true of Mars. Marissa Grunes, Discover Magazine, 6 Apr. 2023 Both do magical things to crunchy, honeycombed segments of lotus root; scoops of gelatinous shrimp pâté, which firm up like meatballs in the heat; slippery little boiled quail eggs; and gorgeous, shell-on white shrimp. Hannah Goldfield, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2023 The white cabinets have two thin, vertical, honeycombed windows cut into each door, and the appliances — including the gas cooktop with built-in grill — are stainless steel. John Ellement, Boston.com Real Estate, 22 Jan. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'honeycomb.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1735, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of honeycomb was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near honeycomb

Cite this Entry

“Honeycomb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honeycomb. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

honeycomb

1 of 2 noun
hon·​ey·​comb -ˌkōm How to pronounce honeycomb (audio)
1
: a mass of six-sided wax cells built by honeybees in their nest to contain young bees and stores of honey
2
: something that resembles a honeycomb in structure or appearance

honeycomb

2 of 2 verb
: to make or become full of holes like a honeycomb

Medical Definition

honeycomb

noun
hon·​ey·​comb -ˌkōm How to pronounce honeycomb (audio)
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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