beehive
noun
a habitation or dwelling-place constructed for bees, usually either dome-shaped or box-shaped.
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beehive
American
[bee-hahyv]
/ ˈbiˌhaɪv /
noun
-
beehives
plural
-
a habitation or dwelling-place constructed for bees, usually either dome-shaped or box-shaped.
-
a natural habitation of bees, as a hollowed-out tree.
-
a crowded, busy place.
-
something resembling an artificial beehive in appearance, as a hut or hairdo.
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Also called beehive oven. an oven for converting coal into coke, characterized by its dome-shaped roof.
beehive
1
British
/ ˈbiːˌhaɪv /
noun
-
a man-made receptacle used to house a swarm of bees
-
a dome-shaped hair style in which the hair is piled high on the head
-
a place where busy people are assembled
Beehive
2
British
/ ˈbiːˌhaɪv /
noun
-
the dome-shaped building that houses sections of Parliament in Wellington, New Zealand
-
the New Zealand government
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of beehive
Middle English word dating back to 1325–75; see origin at bee 1, hive
Explanation
A beehive is a structure — either made by humans or bees — in which bees live and make honey. You might find a beehive in a hollow tree. If you become a beekeeper, you will either build or buy one or more beehives for your bees to live in. You might wear a protective suit, with a hat and netting that covers your face, when you are cleaning or checking on your beehives, to avoid being stung. Around 1960, the word beehive began being used to refer to a remarkable hairstyle, a round, high teased style that requires plenty of hairspray.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The best weapon in the “Jackass’” arsenal isn’t the taser, the beehive or the booby-trapped latrine.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026
The house has a defective chimney, a historic beehive oven and even a hidden chamber decorated with hieroglyphs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026
The royal visitors had tea in the Green Room and were brought into the garden to see a newly-expanded beehive, rebuilt in the shape of a miniature White House.
From BBC ● Apr. 27, 2026
Behind the apostles, in a beehive of sociable activity, wingless angels busy themselves with rituals—tending to oil lamps, burning cypress branches, playing musical instruments.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 9, 2026
My hands tremble as I struggle to tuck the decades’ worth of filtration straws under the mattress in my beehive cell.
From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera
When he recently went to his local pub, the Beehive, Hall said, he no longer recognized most of the patrons.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026
Following tea, the president and first lady will give the royal couple a tour of the newly expanded White House Beehive on the South Lawn.
From BBC ● Apr. 26, 2026
Entry to the court, which stands opposite New Zealand's main government building, the Beehive, is only permitted if people surrender their cellphones.
From Barron's ● Feb. 9, 2026
Mars will buzz the Beehive star cluster on Dec. 5.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 31, 2024
Along with Beehive, there were four men here now.
From "Shelter (Book One): A Mickey Bolitar Novel" by Harlan Coben
The first day of the trip featured a more informal welcome, with the Trumps treating Charles and Camilla to tea and cakes in the White House before showing them beehives on the famed lawn.
From Barron's ● Apr. 28, 2026
But when she arrives at Iona’s apartment, Andie is shocked to see that a coiffed perm, light makeup, a sensible suit and a string of pearls have replaced her friend’s beehives and gelled spikes.
From Salon ● Feb. 28, 2026
Since 2017, the land has also been home to several beehives.
From BBC ● Feb. 20, 2026
They also advise that locals keep vehicles free of food, lock doors and windows, and use electric fencing to protect beehives and chicken coops.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 21, 2025
Or one could simply accept that beehives are busy and get on with it.
From "The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling" by Maryrose Wood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
