beehive

[bee-hahyv]

noun

1. a habitation or dwelling-place constructed for bees, bee, usually either dome-shaped or box-shaped.

2. a natural habitation of bees, bee, as a hollowed-out tree.

3. a crowded, busy place.

4. something resembling an artificial beehive in appearance, as a hut or hairdo.

5. Also called beehive oven. an oven for converting coal into coke, characterized by its dome-shaped roof.

beehive

¹

/ ˈbiːˌhaɪv /

noun

1. a man-made receptacle used to house a swarm of bees

2. a dome-shaped hair style in which the hair is piled high on the head

3. a place where busy people are assembled

Beehive

²

/ ˈbiːˌhaɪv /

noun

1. the dome-shaped building that houses sections of Parliament in Wellington, New Zealand

2. the New Zealand government

Word History and Origins

Origin of beehive¹

Middle English word dating back to 1325–75; bee ¹, hive

Example Sentences

A Dutch beekeeper has spoken of his shock after his 10 beehives were burned down in a park in the central city of Almere, with the loss of an estimated half a million bees.

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However, there are other substantial damages, such as to beehives, and antennae used by farmers to locate their animals.

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The mayor of Aurillac, Pierre Mathonier, was reported as saying that Asian hornets threatening a beehive may have been the catalyst for the attack.

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This batting beehive shows how straight England bowled to Shubman Gill.

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The trailer — released Thursday by Focus Features — opens with a voiceover, a metaphor and a shot of a beehive.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• braid 
• dreadlocks 
• haircut 
• hairdo 
• headdress 
• ponytail