a sweet, viscid fluid produced by bees from the nectar collected from flowers, and stored in nests or hives as food.
this substance as used in cooking or as a spread or sweetener.
the nectar of flowers.
any of various similarly sweet, viscid products produced by insects or in other ways.
something sweet, delicious, or delightful: the honey of flattery.
Informal. a person for whom one feels love or deep affection; sweetheart; darling.
(sometimes initial capital letter)an affectionate or familiar term of address, as to a child or romantic partner (sometimes offensive when used to strangers, casual acquaintances, subordinates, etc., especially by a male to a female).
Informal. something of especially high quality, degree of excellence, etc.: That's a honey of a computer.
adjective
of, like, or pertaining to honey; sweet.
containing honey or flavored or sweetened with honey.
verb (used with object),hon·eyed or hon·ied,hon·ey·ing.
Informal. to talk flatteringly or endearingly to (often followed by up).
to sweeten or flavor with or as if with honey.
verb (used without object),hon·eyed or hon·ied,hon·ey·ing.
Informal. to use flattery, endearing terms, etc., in an effort to obtain something (often followed by up): They always got what they wanted by honeying up to their grandfather.
Origin of honey
before 900;Middle Englishhony,Old Englishhunig; cognate with Dutch,Germanhonig,Old Norsehunang; akin to Greekknēkós pale yellow, tawny
Related formshon·ey·ful, adjectivehon·ey·less, adjectivehon·ey·like, adjective
Old English hunig, from Proto-Germanic *hunagam- (cf. Old Norse hunang, Swedish honung, Old Saxon huneg, Old Frisian hunig, Middle Dutch honich, Dutch honig, Old High German honang, German Honig "honey"); perhaps from PIE *k(e)neko- "yellow, golden" (cf. Sanskrit kancanum, Welsh canecon "gold"). The more common Indo-European word is represented by Gothic miliþ (from PIE *melith "honey;" see Melissa). A term of endearment from at least mid-14c. Meaning "anything good of its kind" is 1888, American English.
v.
mid-14c., from honey (n.). Related: Honeyed; honeying.
