hives

American  

[hahyvz] / haɪvz /

noun

(used with a singular or plural verb)

1. any of various eruptive conditions of the skin, as the wheals of urticaria.

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hives British  

/ haɪvz /

noun

1. (functioning as singular or plural) pathol a nontechnical name for urticaria

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hives Scientific  

/ hīvz /

1. A skin condition characterized by transient, itching welts, usually resulting from an allergic reaction.

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hives Cultural  

1. A condition characterized by the sudden appearance of red, raised areas on the skin that itch severely. Hives may be caused by an allergic reaction (see allergy) to foods or other substances.

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Etymology

Origin of hives

First recorded in 1490–1500; originally Scots; of obscure origin

Example Sentences

In all, Teller lost 80 established hives as well as 16 hives with bees he has rescued as part of his bee removal business.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

According to the researchers, that is comparable to more than 200 honeybee hives and exceeds Manhattan's human population by more than threefold.

From Science Daily • May 28, 2026

This club of apiarists -- ranging from hobbyists to full-time commercial bee farmers -- gathers regularly to learn new skills and discuss tricky problems, not least the parasitic varroa mites that plague their hives.

From Barron's • May 19, 2026

Jenson has since brought two hives, which are kept at his grandparents' home in Minsterley.

From BBC • May 14, 2026

Now, in response to another noise he made, sawing at his lips with his square-tipped fingers, all the twelve hives came alive.

From "Beowulf: A New Telling" by Robert Nye

Related Words

• epidemic
• eruption
• flood
• spate
• wave