¹bee

noun \ˈbē\

Definition of BEE

: 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 honey — see africanized bee, bumblebee, carpenter bee, honeybee, sweat bee

: an eccentric notion : fancy

— bee·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective

— bee in one's bonnet

: ¹bee 2

Origin of BEE

Middle English, from Old English bēo; akin to Old High German bīa bee, Old Irish bech, Lithuanian bitis

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Insect Terms

drone, entomology, gadfly, pismire, proboscis, vespine

Rhymes with BEE

b, be, c, cay, cee, Cree, d, dee, Dee, dree, e, fee, flea, flee, free, g, gee, ghee, glee, gree, he, key, Key, knee, lea, lee, me, mi, p, pea, pee, plea, pree, quay, re, Rhee, scree, sea, see, she, si, ski, spree, sri, t, tea, tee, the, thee, three, ti, tree, twee, Twi, v, vee, we, wee, whee, ye, z, zee

²bee

noun

Definition of BEE

: the letter b

First Known Use of BEE

14th century

Other Alphabet Terms

cuneiform, linear, minuscule, pictograph, rune, symbology, wedge

³bee

noun

Definition of BEE

: a gathering of people for a specific purpose <a quilting bee>

Origin of BEE

perhaps from English dialect been help given by neighbors, from Middle English bene prayer, boon, from Old English bēn prayer — more at boon

First Known Use: 1769

BEE

abbreviation

Definition of BEE

bachelor of electrical engineering

Other Education Terms

baccalaureate, colloquium, corequisite, dissertation, monograph, pedant, practicum, survey course, thesis

BEE Defined for Kids

bee

noun \ˈbē\

Definition of BEE for Kids

: an insect with four wings that is related to the wasps, gathers pollen and nectar from flowers from which it makes beebread and honey for food, and usually lives in large colonies

: a gathering of people to do something together or engage in a competition <a spelling bee>

Medical Dictionary

bee

noun \ˈbē\

Medical Definition of BEE

: honeybee; broadly : any of numerous hymenopteran 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 honey—see africanized bee