hive

[ hahyv ]

noun

1. a shelter constructed for housing a colony of honeybees; beehive.
2. the colony of bees inhabiting a hive.
3. something resembling a beehive in structure or use.
4. a place swarming with busy occupants:

   a hive of industry.

   Synonyms: center, hub

5. a swarming or teeming multitude.

verb (used with object)

, hived, hiv·ing.

1. to gather into or cause to enter a hive.
2. to shelter as in a hive.
3. to store up in a hive.
4. to store or lay away for future use or enjoyment.

verb (used without object)

, hived, hiv·ing.

1. (of bees) to enter a hive.
2. to live together in or as in a hive.

verb phrase

1. British. to become transferred from the main body of a commercial or industrial enterprise through the agency of new ownership.

hive

/ haɪv /

noun

1. a structure in which social bees live and rear their young
2. a colony of social bees
3. a place showing signs of great industry (esp in the phrase a hive of activity )
4. a teeming crowd; multitude
5. an object in the form of a hive

verb

1. to cause (bees) to collect or (of bees) to collect inside a hive
2. to live or cause to live in or as if in a hive
3. tr (of bees) to store (honey, pollen, etc) in the hive
4. tr; often foll by up or away to store, esp for future use

   he used to hive away a small sum every week

Derived Forms

• ˈhiveˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• hiveless adjective
• hivelike adjective
• hiver noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of hive¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English hȳf; akin to Old Norse hūfr “ship's hull,” Latin cūpa “vat”

Word History and Origins

Origin of hive¹

Old English hӯf; related to Westphalian hüwe, Old Norse hūfr ship's hull, Latin cūpa barrel, Greek kupē, Sanskrit kūpa cave

Example Sentences

That theme — later orchestrated with a buzzing hive of strings, solo clarinet, piano and percussion — became the soul of the whole score.

From Los Angeles Times

The 150 hives that burned represented more than half of the company’s colonies — each of them worth $400 to $500 in equipment alone.

From Los Angeles Times

Then he gently squeezes a bellow, pouring smoke into the hives of honeybees in his garden.

From Salon

He has a similar aw-shucks, genial manner — easy to laugh and quick to offer a cup of tea — that belies the strange hive of imagery buzzing inside his head.

From Los Angeles Times

You’ll begin with a handcrafted herbal tea and a brief discussion about the divine energy of the hive.

From Los Angeles Times