# bee

Pronunciation: say "BEE" /ˈbiː/

## Noun

1. A flying insect known for its organized societies, though only a minority of species have them, for collecting pollen, and, in some species, for producing wax and honey.
   - Simple: A flying insect that collects pollen from flowers. Some kinds make honey and wax.
   - _The bee gathered nectar from the lavender along the fence._
   - _Wild bees often nest in hollow logs rather than in hives._
2. A contest in which participants compete, especially at spelling.
   - Simple: A contest where people take turns answering, especially one for spelling words.
   - _He misspelled 'rhythm' in the final round of the county bee._
   - _The national geography bee drew contestants from every state._
3. A social gathering at which members of a community join together to do a task, such as sewing or quilting.
   - Simple: A meeting where neighbors work together on a big job, like sewing or quilting.
   - _Women from three farms gathered for a sewing bee to make clothes for the new baby._
   - _After the harvest, the village held a husking bee that lasted late into the night._
4. Any winged insect capable of stinging, the wasp being the most usual example. *(nonstandard)*
   - Simple: Any flying insect that stings, especially a wasp.
   - _Watch out for the bees around the trash cans; those yellow jackets get aggressive in late summer._
   - _Grandpa calls anything that buzzes and stings a bee, even the wasps under the porch._
5. The written or spoken name for the letter B or b of the Latin alphabet.
   - Simple: The name of the letter B.
   - _Her last name is spelled with a double bee, not a single one._
   - _The teacher had the children write rows of bees and dees on the chalkboard._

## Verb

6. Obsolete spelling of be: to exist, or to have a particular quality, identity, or place. *(obsolete)* — Obsolete spelling of be.
   - Simple: Obsolete spelling of be: to exist, have a quality or identity, or be in a particular place.

## Noun

7. A ring or torque worn as an ornament; a bracelet. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: A ring or metal band worn as jewelry on the finger, arm, or neck.

## Other meanings

- (noun) One of the pieces of hard wood bolted to the sides of the bowsprit, through which the fore-topmast stays are passed.

## Origin

**Meanings 1, 4** — From Middle English "bee," from Old English "bēo," going back through Proto-Germanic "*bijǭ" to the Proto-Indo-European root "*bʰey-" (bee). It is related to Dutch "bij," German "Biene," and Swedish "bi."
**Meanings 2–3** — Possibly from dialectal "bene" or "bean" (help given by neighbours), from Middle English "been" (neighbourly help, request), from Old English "bēn" (prayer, request, favour), and ultimately Proto-Germanic "*bōniz." It is a doublet of "boon" and related to German "Bann."
**Meaning 7** — From Middle English "bie," from Old English "bēah" or "bēag," from Proto-Germanic "*baugaz." It is a doublet of "beag" and of "bagel."
**Meaning 6** — An old spelling of be, also once used for been.
**Meaning 5** — Latin be, which named the letter B, was taken into Old English as be and passed on into Middle English.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/bee (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).