Pronunciation

/beɪ/

Definitions

Noun

A bee is a small, typically yellow and black, flying insect that is an important pollinator in many ecosystems. It belongs to the order Hymenoptera and the family Apidae.

Verb (transitive)

To bee (as in “be”) is not a standard verb form for this word; however, one can use “to honeybee” or “to imitate bees” metaphorically. For example:

• “The bees honeybuned the flowers, transferring pollen from one plant to another.”
• “She was a busy bee, organizing the charity event all day.”

Noun (collective)

Bee (plural bees) can also be used as a collective noun referring to a group of these insects, like “a swarm of bees.”

Adjective

“Bee-like” describes something having qualities similar to bees, such as industriousness or social organization.

Phrases

• “Follow the lead of the worker bees” implies模仿蜜蜂的勤劳。
• “Beeswax” is the natural wax produced by worker bees.
• “Beekeeping” is the practice of maintaining bee colonies for honey production or pollination.

Example Sentences

• Noun: “The garden was alive with the buzzing of bees on a sunny day.”
• Collective Noun: “The beekeeper had to shoo away the swarming bees from his apiary.”
• Adjective: “Her organizational skills were bee-like, always keeping tasks in order.”

Synonyms

• Honeybee
• Honey-maker
• Pollinator
• Worker (when referring to individual bees in a colony)
• Social insect (describing their collective nature)