hive

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: a container for housing honeybees
b
: the usually aboveground nest of bees
2
: a colony of bees
3
: a place swarming with activity
hiveless adjective

hive

2 of 2

verb

hived; hiving

intransitive verb

1
of bees : to enter and take possession of a hive
2
: to reside in close association

transitive verb

1
: to collect into a hive
2
: to store up in or as if in a hive

Examples of hive in a Sentence

Noun The house was a hive of activity as we prepared for the party.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Authorities often respond by isolating the area, relocating hives, and issuing public safety warnings to prevent further harm. Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 July 2025 After the end of Denmark’s two-year kit cycle, the template lived on as teams across Europe joined Hummel’s hive. Peter Carline, New York Times, 6 July 2025 The exhibit showcases different types of bees, see some real hives (no live bees), a honey extractor and items on display loaned by beekeepers Jack Carter and Deb Conway, Cupertino Rotarian Alysa Sakkas and the Honey Bee Ladies of Campbell. Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 6 July 2025 Beekeepers carefully manage their hives to keep Africanized queens out. Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 23 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for hive

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English hȳf; perhaps akin to Old Norse hūfr ship's hull, Latin cūpa tub, Sanskrit kūpa cave

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hive. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

hive

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: a container for housing honeybees
b
: the usually aboveground nest of bees
c
: a colony of bees
2
: a place swarming with busy occupants

hive

2 of 2 verb
hived; hiving
1
a
: to collect into a hive
hive bees
b
: to enter and take over a hive or nesting place
2
: to live or gather in close association

Medical Definition

hive

noun
: the raised edematous red patch of skin or mucous membrane characteristic of hives : an urticarial wheal

More from Merriam-Webster on hive

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