beehive

[ bee-hahyv ]

noun

1. a habitation or dwelling-place constructed for bees, bee, usually either dome-shaped or box-shaped.
2. a natural habitation of bees, bee, as a hollowed-out tree.
3. a crowded, busy place.
4. something resembling an artificial beehive in appearance, as a hut or hairdo.
5. Also called beehive oven. an oven for converting coal into coke, characterized by its dome-shaped roof.

Beehive

¹

/ ˈbiːˌhaɪv /

noun

1. the dome-shaped building that houses sections of Parliament in Wellington, New Zealand
2. the New Zealand government

beehive

²

/ ˈbiːˌhaɪv /

noun

1. a man-made receptacle used to house a swarm of bees
2. a dome-shaped hair style in which the hair is piled high on the head
3. a place where busy people are assembled

Word History and Origins

Origin of beehive¹

Middle English word dating back to 1325–75; bee ¹, hive

Example Sentences

The Modesto Fire Department and Cal Fire responded to an incident on a private property where dozens of beehive boxes next to Sonora Road had caught fire Thursday morning.

From Los Angeles Times

When Ross Main tracked down the abandoned beehives his grandfather had kept in a disused quarry, he was surprised to find that the bees were still there.

From BBC

Beckham's passion for beekeeping was shown in the recent Netflix documentary about the footballer, which shows him walking in full apiarist attire to his beehives.

From BBC

The singer’s sweeping eyeliner, tottering heels and disheveled beehive are still instantly recognizable, 13 years after her death.

From New York Times

“How else could I juggle musical beehives with my feet?”

From Literature

Related Words

• braid
• dreadlocks
• haircut
• hairdo
• headdress
• ponytail