# honey

Pronunciation: US say "HUN-ee" /ˈhʌni/; UK

## Noun

1. The sweet, thick, usually golden fluid that bees make, mostly from flower nectar, eaten as food; also a particular kind of it, such as clover honey.
   - Simple: A sweet, thick food, usually golden, that bees make mostly from flowers.
   - _He stirred a spoonful of honey into his evening tea._
   - _Local beekeepers sell raw honey at the farmers market._
2. An affectionate name used to address someone you love or feel fondness for.
   - Simple: A loving name used for someone you care about.
   - _Don't worry, honey, everything will turn out fine._
   - _She kissed him and whispered, "Goodnight, honey."_
6. Something sweet, pleasing, or highly desirable.
   - Simple: Something very nice or that people really want.
   - _That old sports car is a real honey, and he refuses to sell it._
   - _The house needed work, but at that price it was a honey of a deal._
7. A range of pale yellow to brownish-yellow color, like that of most honey.
   - Simple: A warm yellow-brown color, like that of most honey.
   - _The artist mixed a pale honey for the background sky._
   - _Autumn leaves faded from bright gold to a dull honey._
9. A woman, most often one thought of as attractive. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: A woman, especially one who is good-looking.
   - _He couldn't stop staring at the honey by the pool._
   - _A few honeys from the office joined them for drinks._

## Adjective

3. Involving honey or resembling it in taste, texture, or appearance.
   - Simple: Made with honey or like honey in some way.
   - _The recipe calls for a honey marinade on the chicken._
   - _A rich honey aroma drifted from the corner bakery._
4. Having the pale to brownish yellow color typical of most honey.
   - Simple: Having a soft yellow or yellow-brown color, like honey.
   - _Her honey hair caught the candlelight as she turned._
   - _They chose a warm honey shade for the bedroom walls._
5. Sweet as honey; having a smooth, honeyed sweetness.
   - Simple: Sounding or tasting very sweet, the way honey does.
   - _The radio host's low, honey voice kept late-night drivers company for years._
   - _Her warm, honey tones on the phone made every nervous caller feel like an old friend._

## Verb

10. To sweeten something with honey, or to make words or demands more pleasant or agreeable.
   - Simple: To make something sweet with honey, or to make something sound nicer.
11. To talk sweetly, fondly, or coaxingly to someone; to flatter or fawn.
   - Simple: To talk to someone in a sweet, loving, or flattering way.

## Noun

8. Flower nectar; the sweet fluid produced by plants and gathered by bees. *(rare)*
   - Simple: The sweet liquid that flowers make, which bees collect.

## Other meanings

- (noun) Pre-ejaculate; the clear fluid emitted from the penis prior to ejaculation.

## Origin

It comes from Middle English "hony," from Old English "huniġ," from Proto-Germanic "*hunagą" (related to German "Honig" and Dutch "honing"), and ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European root, with possible cognates including Ancient Greek "knêkos" (safflower) and Tocharian B "kronkśe" (bee).

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