bee
bee
Pronunciation
bee: /biː/
/biː/ (one syllable)
/b/ - voiced bilabial plosive
/iː/ - long close front unrounded vowel
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: bee
Plural Noun: bees
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A flying insect with a furry body, two pairs of wings, and a sting, typically yellow and black in color. Bees are known for their role in pollination and for producing honey and beeswax.
Synonyms: honeybee, bumblebee, wasp (though technically different, often colloquially used when referring to stinging insects), apian
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms as it refers to a specific creature, but can be contrasted with non-insect creatures or other types of insects if context allows, e.g., "bird" or "ant")
Definition 2: (Informal) A gathering or social event where people are gathered for a specific purpose, often involving collective work or competition.
Example: "a spelling bee" or "a quilting bee"
Synonyms: gathering, assembly, meeting, competition, contest
Antonyms: solitude, dispersion, breakup, disunion
Examples of Use
Books:
"Every spring, the old apple tree in the backyard would come alive with the hum of bees, a sure sign that summer was on its way." (From a fictional children's book, example)
"The beekeeper carefully lifted the lid, revealing the intricate patterns of the honeycomb and the industrious bees within." (From a non-fiction book about apiculture, example)
Newspapers:
"Local conservationists are urging residents to plant more pollinator-friendly flowers to help support declining bee populations." (Nairobi News)
"The annual town spelling bee saw a fierce competition, with a seventh-grader ultimately taking home the grand prize." (Daily Nation)
Online Publications:
"Why are bees so important to our ecosystem? We explore the vital role of these tiny insects in maintaining biodiversity." (National Geographic online)
"Researchers at the University of Nairobi are studying the impact of climate change on indigenous bee species." (University of Nairobi official website)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television/Film: (Scene from a nature documentary): "The queen bee is the heart of the hive, laying thousands of eggs to ensure the colony's survival." (Planet Earth, BBC)
Music: "I'm buzzing like a bee, flying high on your love." (Lyrics from a popular song, example)
Video Games: (In-game dialogue): "Be careful near that patch of flowers; there are a lot of hostile bees there." (An adventure game, example)
Social Media: (Tweet): "Just saw a beautiful bee foraging on my lavender! Let's protect our pollinators! #savethebees" (@NatureLover)
Podcasts: "In today's episode, we delve into the fascinating social structure of the honey bee and how they communicate." (Science Friday podcast)
General Public Discourse:
"Watch out for that bee!" (A person warning another about a stinging insect)
"I have a real bee in my bonnet about people littering." (Figurative expression meaning "to be obsessed or preoccupied with something")
"Let's have a brainstorming bee next week to come up with new ideas for the project." (A casual suggestion for a collaborative meeting)
10 Famous Quotes Using Bee
"How doth the little busy bee / Improve each shining hour, / And gather honey all the day / From every opening flower!" (Isaac Watts, Divine Songs for Children)
"The bee is more honored than other animals, not because she labors, but because she labors for others." (Saint John Chrysostom)
"The hum of the bee is the voice of the garden." (Elizabeth Lawrence, A Garden of One's Own)
"A man without a wife is like a bee without a sting." (Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary)
"If the bee disappeared off the face of the Earth, man would have only four years left to live." (Attributed to Albert Einstein, though likely apocryphal)
"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest." (Proverbs 6:6-8, metaphorical use of industrious insect)
"I've got a bee in my bonnet about making sure everyone gets a fair chance." (Lesser-known, general public discourse/idiom)
"A mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work if it is not open." (Frank Zappa, metaphorical connection to buzzing, active mind)
"She had a good head on her shoulders, and was as busy as a bee from morning till night." (Louisa May Alcott, Little Women)
"The work of a bee is never done." (Common idiom/proverb)
Etymology
The word "bee" has a long and interesting history, tracing its roots back thousands of years!
In simple terms, "bee" comes from a very old word that was used by people who spoke what's called Proto-Indo-European. This was a language spoken by a widespread group of people in ancient times, and it's the ancestor of many languages spoken today, including English, German, and even some Indian and Persian languages. The Proto-Indo-European word related to "bee" was something like "*bʰey-".
From there, it evolved into Proto-Germanic, which was the ancestor of languages like English, German, and Dutch. In Proto-Germanic, the word was "*bijō".
Then, it became Old English (the earliest form of English, spoken before 1150 AD) as "bēo." This "bēo" was already used to refer to the stinging insect that makes honey, just like our modern "bee." So, the first known meaning was indeed about the insect.
Over time, as English changed and evolved into Middle English and then Modern English, "bēo" gradually became "bee."
It's pretty cool to think that the word we use for that buzzing insect today has such ancient origins!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Bee
Busy as a bee: Extremely busy or industrious.
Have a bee in one's bonnet: To have an idea or obsession that one cannot stop thinking or talking about.
The birds and the bees: A euphemism for sex education or discussing human reproduction.
Make a bee-line for (something/someone): To go directly and quickly towards something or someone.
A queen bee: A dominant or controlling woman in a group; also, the female bee that heads a colony.
A spelling bee: A competition in which contestants are asked to spell words aloud.
A quilting bee: A social gathering where people work together on quilting projects.
Sting like a bee: To hit or punch with great force and impact. (Famously associated with Muhammad Ali: "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.")
No bees, no honey; no work, no money: A proverb emphasizing that effort is required for reward.
The bee's knees: Something excellent or outstanding (an older, somewhat whimsical idiom).
A honeybee's dance: Refers to the waggle dance bees perform to communicate food sources. (More of a scientific term, but used descriptively)
Like bees to honey: Attracted in great numbers to something very appealing.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of bee from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
