honey

[huhn-ee]

noun

plural

honeys 

1. a sweet, viscid fluid produced by bees from the nectar collected from flowers, and stored in nests or hives as food.

2. this substance as used in cooking or as a spread or sweetener.

3. the nectar of flowers.

4. any of various similarly sweet, viscid products produced by insects or in other ways.

5. something sweet, delicious, or delightful.

   the honey of flattery.

6. Informal.,  a person for whom one feels love or deep affection; sweetheart; darling.

7. (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).

8. Informal.,  something of especially high quality, degree of excellence, etc..

   That's a honey of a computer.

adjective

1. of, like, or pertaining to honey; sweet.

2. containing honey or flavored or sweetened with honey.

verb (used with object)

honeyed, honied, honeying. 

1. Informal.,  to talk flatteringly or endearingly to (often followed byup ).

2. to sweeten or flavor with or as if with honey.

verb (used without object)

honeyed, honied, honeying. 

1. Informal.,  to use flattery, endearing terms, etc., in an effort to obtain something (often followed byup ).

   They always got what they wanted by honeying up to their grandfather.

honey

/ ˈhʌnɪ /

noun

1. a sweet viscid substance made by bees from nectar and stored in their nests or hives as food. It is spread on bread or used as a sweetening agent

2. any similar sweet substance, esp the nectar of flowers

3. anything that is sweet or delightful

4. (often capital) a term of endearment

5. informal,  something considered to be very good of its kind

   a honey of a car

6. (modifier) of, concerned with, or resembling honey

verb

1. (tr) to sweeten with or as if with honey

2. (often foll by up) to talk to (someone) in a fond or flattering way

Other Word Forms

• honey-like adjective
• honeyful adjective
• honeyless adjective
• honeylike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of honey¹

before 900; Middle English hony, Old English hunig; cognate with Dutch, German honig, Old Norse hunang; akin to Greek knēkós pale yellow, tawny

Word History and Origins

Origin of honey¹

Old English huneg; related to Old Norse hunang, Old Saxon hanig, German Honig, Greek knēkos yellowish, Sanskrit kánaka- gold

Example Sentences

The quiet, practiced awareness of how flavors talk to one another — the way lemon steadies cream or how a drizzle of honey can round off a salt edge.

Read more on Salon

More than 1,000 items will be sold under the new label, Amazon said, including eggs, honey, potatoes, rice and brownies, with most priced under $5.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“Oh, we couldn’t wait to come here, honey.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He set everything out in front of them, then said a quiet prayer before releasing the honey into the water and leaving the flowers on the riverbank.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

For a sore throat, drinking plenty of fluids and having a teaspoon of honey may help, the NHS says.

Read more on BBC