propolis

noun prop·o·lis \ ˈprä-pə-ləs \

|Updated on: 7 Jun 2018

Definition of propolis

: a brownish resinous material of waxy consistency collected by bees from the buds of trees and used as a cement in repairing and maintaining the hive

Recent Examples of propolis from the Web

Adopting that lifestyle in Berkeley, their grassy yard is home to chickens, raised for their eggs and pest-control savvy, and bees, whose honey, wax and propolis are used for cooking and Tackbary’s homemade beauty products.

— leilani marie labong, San Francisco Chronicle, "Peace, love and a ’70s vibe rock a Berkeley home," 1 June 2018
In essence, guests become immersed in bees and beekeeping, such as learning how to distinguish honey from propolis (a waxy bee glue used to seal up hives), and how to extract honey from the hive’s cells.

— jeanine barone, New York Times, "Fall in Love With Bees on an ‘Apitourism’ Trip to Slovenia," 9 May 2018
It's also made with honey and propolis, which are anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and antiseptic.

— kaleigh fasanella, Allure, "What to Know About Microblading If You Have Sensitive Skin," 12 Feb. 2018
Ugandans prize the insects for their honey, their wax (used in soap and cosmetics), their propolis, and even their venom, which can be used to boost immunity.

— atlanta life, ajc, "Beekeeper, baker, kayaker don’t let blindness stop the vision," 9 July 2017
This body treatment offers bee propolis to support healthy immune response and myofascial massage to releases tight muscle and connective tissues.

— meirav devash, CNN, "How to beat jet lag with hotel spa treatments," 15 May 2017
Ugandans prize the insects for their honey, wax (used in soap and cosmetics), propolis (a resin used to close holes in their hives) and even their venom, which can be used to boost immunity.

— tara bahrampour, Washington Post, "Blindness does not stop this beekeeper, this baker and this kayaker from expanding their vision," 29 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'propolis.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.