honey

[ huhn-ee ]

noun

, plural hon·eys.

1. a sweet, viscid fluid produced by bees from the nectar collected from flowers, and stored in nests or hives as food.
2. this substance as used in cooking or as a spread or sweetener.
3. the nectar of flowers.
4. any of various similarly sweet, viscid products produced by insects or in other ways.
5. something sweet, delicious, or delightful:

   the honey of flattery.

6. Informal. a person for whom one feels love or deep affection; sweetheart; darling.
7. (sometimes initial capital letter) an affectionate or familiar term of address, as to a child or romantic partner (sometimes offensive when used to strangers, casual acquaintances, subordinates, etc., especially by a male to a female).
8. Informal. something of especially high quality, degree of excellence, etc.:

   That's a honey of a computer.

adjective

1. of, like, or pertaining to honey; sweet.
2. containing honey or flavored or sweetened with honey.

verb (used with object)

, hon·eyed or hon·ied, hon·ey·ing.

1. Informal. to talk flatteringly or endearingly to (often followed by up ).
2. to sweeten or flavor with or as if with honey.

verb (used without object)

, hon·eyed or hon·ied, hon·ey·ing.

1. Informal. to use flattery, endearing terms, etc., in an effort to obtain something (often followed by up ):

   They always got what they wanted by honeying up to their grandfather.

honey

/ ˈhʌnɪ /

noun

1. a sweet viscid substance made by bees from nectar and stored in their nests or hives as food. It is spread on bread or used as a sweetening agent
2. any similar sweet substance, esp the nectar of flowers
3. anything that is sweet or delightful
4. often capital a term of endearment
5. informal.
   something considered to be very good of its kind

   a honey of a car

6. modifier of, concerned with, or resembling honey

verb

1. tr to sweeten with or as if with honey
2. often foll by up to talk to (someone) in a fond or flattering way

Derived Forms

• ˈhoney-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• honey·ful adjective
• honey·less adjective
• honey·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of honey¹

before 900; Middle English hony, Old English hunig; cognate with Dutch, German honig, Old Norse hunang; akin to Greek knēkós pale yellow, tawny

Word History and Origins

Origin of honey¹

Old English huneg; related to Old Norse hunang, Old Saxon hanig, German Honig, Greek knēkos yellowish, Sanskrit kánaka- gold

Example Sentences

In “Candyman,” released in 1992 and followed by a remake in 2021, Todd played a menacing killer who had a hook on one arm after hoodlums had sawed off his hand, covered him in honey and set loose bees to sting him to death.

From Los Angeles Times

Many Democrats have voiced solidarity with the queer community, and queer leaders and organizations are doing outreach to make sure queer people are OK and to push back against Republican narratives that dehumanize transgender people — which is all vital, but not enough, said Honey Mahogany, executive director of the San Francisco Office of Transgender Initiatives.

From Los Angeles Times

He wasn’t able to find much voiceover work after the gig either, he told Culture Honey later that year, because he was “pigeonholed as the ‘You’ve got’ guy, and nothing ever really came of that.”

From Los Angeles Times

“Honey, I said, you know who that is? That’s Fernando,” Scioscia recalled telling her.

From Los Angeles Times

“I do what I do,” she said, “because I don’t want anybody to go through what I went through. I’ll say this — I caught hell with a catcher’s mitt, honey.”

From Los Angeles Times