drone

Pluraldrones

Formsdrones, droning, droned

1. 1
   nouncountable

   An aircraft or other vehicle without a pilot or crew on board, controlled remotely or by an onboard computer; especially an unmanned aerial vehicle.

   Search teams launched a drone to scan the flooded valley for survivors.

   Hobbyists fly camera-equipped drones at the local park most weekends.

   UsageCommon in drone strike and camera drone; people fly or launch a drone.

   SimilarUAV

   Note

   Military aviation brought this sense into English early. A 1948 notice for Air Force Day describes a radio-controlled Flying Fortress making a nonstop flight from Florida with "no hands" touching the controls. By 2012 the New York Times could headline drone strikes, now a fixed pairing alongside camera drone and drone overflight. UAV denotes the aircraft, UAS the whole system, and drone is the everyday word. Source

   Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 5 facts

   • The aircraft sense developed in military aviation. en.wiktionary.org
   • A notice entitled “Air Force Day” appeared in 1948 and described a nonstop Flying Fortress flight from Florida without hands touching the controls. en.wiktionary.org
   • The Flying Fortress described in that notice was radio-controlled. en.wiktionary.org
   • The New York Times used “Drone Strikes” in a headline in 2012. en.wiktionary.org
   • UAV denotes the aircraft; UAS denotes the aircraft together with its supporting equipment. faa.gov
2. 2
   low murmurnouncountable

   A continuous humming or deep murmuring sound, such as that of a crowd or distant gathering.

   The drone of conversation rose as more guests arrived.

   A deep drone rolled across the valley from the gathered pilgrims.

   UsageUsually the drone of + its source: the drone of traffic, engines or voices.

   Similarmurmur, hum, buzz, rumble

3. 3
   male beenouncountable

   A male bee, ant, or wasp that performs no work but can fertilize the queen.

   In late fall, each drone is pushed out of the hive, since the colony can no longer afford to feed it.

   Worker bees expel the drones from the hive before winter sets in.

   Note

   Its reputation came early. Dryden's 1697 Georgics has the workers combine "to drive / The lazy drones from the laborious hive," and that picture of a male who is fed but idle is what turned the bee into the human idler. Source

   Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

   • Dryden’s translation of the Georgics was first published in 1697. openbook.lib.utah.edu
   • Dryden’s Georgics depicts the workers combining to expel the drones, using the quoted wording. en.wikisource.org
   • The human-idler sense draws on the image of a drone living on others’ work. en.wiktionary.org
4. 4
   humverbintransitive

   To give off a low-pitched, continuous hum or buzz.

   Generators drone steadily through the night at the construction site.

   The old fan droned in the corner of the room.

   Similarhum, buzz, whir

   Note

   This is a different word from the bee, though it shares the spelling. Middle English drounen meant "to roar, bellow," from a Germanic verb for making a sound, and further back from a root for roaring and humming. Over time the sound settled from a bellow into a steady low hum. Source

   Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

   • Middle English drounen meant to roar or bellow. lrc.la.utexas.edu
   • The verb derives from a Germanic sound verb and ultimately a root meaning to roar or hum. en.wiktionary.org
   • The earlier roaring meaning developed into the low humming meaning. en.wikisource.org
5. 5
   speak flatlyverbintransitive

   To speak in a dull, unchanging tone of voice.

   Presenters who drone in a flat voice quickly bore the room.

   He droned about quarterly figures while everyone checked their phones.

   UsageMost often drone on, with about for the topic: he droned on about sales figures.

   Similarramble

6. 6
   music stylenoununcountable

   A genre of music built on sustained or repeated droning sounds held over long stretches of time.

   Drone draws on Indian classical music and minimalist composition.

   Fans of drone value slow change and deep, sustained tones.

   UsageSay listen to drone. Drone music is clearer where drone could mean a sound or an aircraft.

7. 7
   mindless followernounslangderogatorycountable

   A person regarded as lacking independent, critical thought who blindly follows the group; used contemptuously.

   She dismissed the whole committee as drones who never questioned the boss.

   Online, he brands every critic a drone incapable of original thought.

   UsageIn neutral writing, follower or conformist makes the point without contempt.

   Similarsheep, conformist, automaton, robot

   Oppositeindividualist, maverick, freethinker

   Note

   An insult, and a heavy one, that borrows the hive to call someone a mindless follower. Non-player character, the video-game comparison, does similar work. Both picture a person running on someone else's program, repeating the group's lines instead of reaching a view of their own.

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