Dictionary

beehive en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈbiːhaɪv/
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English beehyve, equivalent to bee + hive.

Meanings

1. A sheltered place where bees, usually honey bees (genus Apis), live. ▸ Such a home prepared by the bees themselves, in which some species of honey bees live and raise their young.
2. A sheltered place where bees, usually honey bees (genus Apis), live. ▸ A man-made structure in which honey bees are kept so that humans can harvest their honey.
   • The key-hole was still their port of egress and regress, and it resembled the aperture of a bee-hive, on a sunny day in June. 1850, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, London: H.G. Bohn, page 306:
3. (figuratively) Any place full of activity, or in which people are very busy.
4. A women's hairstyle, popular in the 1960s, in which long hair is styled into a hive-shaped form on top of the head and usually held in place with lacquer.
5. A particular style of hat.
   • A very neat old woman, still in her good outdoor coat and best beehive hat, was sitting at a polished mahogany table on whose surface there were several scored scratches so deep that a triangular piece of the veneer had come cleanly away,[…]. 1963, Margery Allingham, “Foreword”, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
6. A type of anti-personnel ammunition round containing flechettes, and characterised by the buzzing sound made as they fly through the air.
   • By the time it was over, Stone had been blown thirty feet through the air by a beehive round as he was running across a field, knocked out by the concussion of the blast. 2004, Martin Torgoff, “Next Stop is Vietnam”, in Can’t Find My Way Home: America in the Great Stoned Age, 1945–2000, New York, N.Y.: Simon & Schuster, →ISBN, page 179:
7. (New-Zealand, alt-of, alternative, nonstandard) Alternative form of Beehive.
   alt of Beehive
   • As with other major buildings the beehive demonstrated the need for a standardized building drawing practice which could be applied — and understood 1977, New Zealand Libraries - Volumes 40-42, →ISBN, page 30:
   • Brian Small said that the Minister could not 'hide in the beehive any longer' 2004, Nicholas Tarling, International Students in New Zealand, →ISBN, page 114:
   • In New Zealand, this approach is taken one step forward in that Ministers physically sit together up in the beehive, as their building is known, rather than being based in the Departments. 2010, David Halpern, The Hidden Wealth of Nations, →ISBN, page 216:
8. In Conway's Game of Life, a particular still life pattern with a rounded appearance.
   • Alternatively, in many cases the debris can be suppressed by perturbing the debris with a passing spaceship before it stabilizes into the beehive or loaf. 1992 October 22, David Bell, “Spaceships in Conway's Life (Part 6a)”, in comp.theory.cell-automata (Usenet):
   • By the way, what happens to a beehive which is under attack by one or two gliders such as pictured: 1989 December 22, Norbert Roestel, “CA-LETTER”, in comp.theory.cell-automata (Usenet):
   • Unfortunately, a beehive (a common six cell still life) was also created close to the block, and its position made it impossible to eliminate with conventional methods using still lifes (anything placed to destroy it would be damaged by earlier activity). 1996 November 16, Paul Callahan, “Still-life glider reflector found”, in comp.theory.cell-automata (Usenet):
9. A diagram showing where balls have passed the batter, used in analysis.

Forms

Deriveds

beehiving · beehive burner · beehiver · beehive charcoal · beehive of activity · beehive quern · Beyhive · beehive tomb · beehive coal · beehive shelf

Relateds

bee · hive

Synonyms

apiary · hive of activity · skep · hive · B-52 · hive

Translations (297)

lt avilys (home of bees) · nl bijenkast (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · ja 蜂巣 (home of bees) · hu méhkas (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · ga coirceog bheach (home of bees) · dlm alviar (home of bees) · uk ву́лик (home of bees) · pt colmeia (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · xmf სკა (home of bees) · sco byke (home of bees) · uk у́лик (home of bees) · ang hȳf (home of bees) · de Bienenstaat (home of bees) · hu méhkas (home of bees) · cy gwallt cwch gwenyn (hairstyle) · hsb kołć (home of bees) · ka სკა (home of bees) · xmf ბუკი (home of bees) · fr ruche (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · bg у́лище (home of bees) · es colmena (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · yi בינשטאָק (home of bees) · sk úľ (home of bees) · co arna (home of bees) · as চাক (home of bees) · pl ul (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · sh пчѐлиња̄к (home of bees) · ru у́лей (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · cs hnízdo (home of bees) · cu улии (home of bees) · sh kȍšnica (figurative: any place in which people are very busy) · mi pouaka pī (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · ar خَلِيَّة (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · be ву́лей (home of bees) · ota پتك (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · ug ھەرە كۆنىكى (home of bees) · dsb wul (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · pt colmeia (home of bees) · nl korf (home of bees) · oc bornat (home of bees) · ar جَبْح (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · fa-ira کَنْدو (home of bees) · it arnia (home of bees) · is býflugnabú (home of bees) · fi mehiläispesä (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · ba солоҡ (home of bees) · tr kovan (home of bees) · sv bikoloni (home of bees) · es beehive (hairstyle) · ro stup (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · uk у́лій (home of bees) · cs úl (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · am ቀፎ (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · sl panj (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · uk ву́лій (home of bees) · syc ܟܘܪܐ (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · mk улиште (home of bees) · sq krinë (home of bees) · lt avilys (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · fr fourmilière (figurative: any place in which people are very busy) · ko 벌집 (home of bees) · nl immenhuif (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · it formicaio (figurative: any place in which people are very busy) · ce никх (home of bees) · eu erlauntza (home of bees) · es dujo (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · bbl სკა (home of bees) · as মৌচাক (home of bees) · oc buc (home of bees) · ast caxellu (home of bees) · arc כַּוְּורְתָּא / כַּוְּרְתָּא (home of bees) · sq koshere (home of bees) · it alveare (home of bees) · ar عَسَّالَة (home of bees) · de Bienenstock (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · ur چَھتَّا (home of bees) · el κυψέλη (home of bees) · ca casera (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · nl huif (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · mr पोळे (home of bees) · abq щхамартан (home of bees) · ca rusc (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · mi whare mīere (home of bees) · sh ко̏шница (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · kxc kaakurta (home of bees) · gl trobo (home of bees) · fi mehiläispesä (home of bees) · hy փեթակ (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · gur sĩn-yoko (home of bees) · bxe gorgora (home of bees) · ba умарта (home of bees) · tpi haus bilong ol binen (home of bees) · ar مَنْحَل (home of bees) · rm ualer (home of bees) · cmn 蜂箱 (home of bees) · cs úl (home of bees) · pdt Bieeromp (home of bees) · es colmena (hairstyle) · sl panj (home of bees) · nl immenkorf (home of bees) · mzn کندل (home of bees) · vo bienabäset (home of bees) · uz asalari qutisi (home of bees) · ug ھەرە ئۇۋىسى (home of bees) · gl cortizo (home of bees) · ota پتك (home of bees) · cy cwch gwenyn (home of bees) · abq мартан (home of bees) · tr arı kovanı (hairstyle) · sh pčèlinjāk (home of bees) · ttj omuzinga class 3 (home of bees) · es colmena (home of bees) · arz خلاية (home of bees) · mk кошница (home of bees) · am ቀፎ (home of bees) · uz arixona (home of bees) · pl ul (home of bees) · hy փեթակ (home of bees) · tg канду (home of bees) · it arnia (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · sh kȍšnica (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · arc כַּוְּורָא / כַּוְּרָא (home of bees) · sq qengjë (home of bees) · grc κυψέλη (home of bees) · cmn 蜂巢 (home of bees) · xmf ქოფე (home of bees) · sq krodhë (home of bees) · syc ܟܘܪܬܐ (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · tpi haus bilong ol binen (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · co bugna (home of bees) · sh ко̏шница (home of bees) · tr kovan (figurative: any place in which people are very busy) · ar قَفِير (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · de Bienenkorb (home of bees) · lld vascel da l'eves (home of bees) · ast truébanu (home of bees) · sh ко̏шница (figurative: any place in which people are very busy) · fr ruche (figurative: any place in which people are very busy) · fi pesä (home of bees) · vi tổ ong (home of bees) · sw mzinga (home of bees) · ia apiculario (home of bees) · mn зөгийн үүр (home of bees) · lzz კავრანი (home of bees) · kn ಜೇನುಗೂಡು (home of bees) · sq zgjua (home of bees) · sv bisamhälle (home of bees) · de B-52-Frisur (hairstyle) · nn kube (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · ota آریلق (home of bees) · yue 蜂房 (home of bees) · pt colméia (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · la alveārium (home of bees) · arc כַּוְּורָא / כַּוְּרָא (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · ltg aviļs (home of bees) · pt cortiço (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · he כוורת \ כַּוֶּרֶת (home of bees) · om gaagura (home of bees) · ur چَھتَّہ (home of bees) · nl bijenkorf (home of bees) · wa tchetoere (home of bees) · sv bikupa (figurative: any place in which people are very busy) · kk ара ұясы (home of bees) · sv bikupa (home of bees) · ca arna (home of bees) · rm avieuler (home of bees) · fr choucroute (hairstyle) · kbd бжьэматэ (home of bees) · ar عَسَّالَة (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · ar كُوَارَة (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · fr ruche (home of bees) · mi wharepī (home of bees) · pox väul (home of bees) · hi मधुमक्खी का छत्ता (home of bees) · ms rumah lebah (home of bees) · ca buc (home of bees) · la apiārium (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · nv tsísʼná bighan (home of bees) · nl immenhuif (home of bees) · sv kupa (home of bees) · syc ܟܘܪܬܐ (home of bees) · nb kube (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · lzz ღუნი (home of bees) · bg ко́шер (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · nrf rueûque (home of bees) · ca arna (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · arc כַּוְּורְתָּא / כַּוְּרְתָּא (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · co arnia (home of bees) · nn biekube (home of bees) · gl albariza (home of bees) · ca buc (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · my ပျားအုံ (home of bees) · ta தேன்கூடு (home of bees) · sh kȍšnica (home of bees) · sv bikupa (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · th รวงผึ้ง (home of bees) · ja 人込みの場所 (figurative: any place in which people are very busy) · fi tupeeraus (hairstyle) · tl bahay-pukyutan (home of bees) · kn ಜೇನುಪೆಟ್ಟಿಗೆ (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · da bikube (home of bees) · nl bijenhuif (home of bees) · syc ܟܘܪܐ (home of bees) · te తేనెగూడు (home of bees) · syl ꠝꠌꠣꠇ (home of bees) · bg ко́шер (home of bees) · sl čebelnjak (beehouse) (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · sva ღუ̂ებ (home of bees) · de Beehive-Frisur (hairstyle) · ta தேனடை (home of bees) · la mellārium (home of bees) · ko 벌통 (home of bees) · ja 蜜蜂の巣箱 (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · nl huif (home of bees) · sco bink (home of bees) · cs včelín (home of bees) · dsb wul (home of bees) · gl arna (home of bees) · bo སྦྲང་ཚང (home of bees) · hy մեղվաբույն (home of bees) · ky бал челек (home of bees) · os мыдычыргъӕд (home of bees) · ro stup (home of bees) · gl covo (home of bees) · roa-opt colmẽa (home of bees) · sq korube (home of bees) · de Bienenkorb (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · nl immenkorf (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · hu kaptár (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · fa-ira شان (home of bees) · it alveare (figurative: any place in which people are very busy) · ia apiculario (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · tr kovan (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · nb bikube (home of bees) · wal mattaa koottaa (home of bees) · cmn 蜂房 (home of bees) · fi muurahaispesä (figurative: any place in which people are very busy) · lzz მცქა (home of bees) · lo ຮັງເຜິ້ງ (home of bees) · uz asalari uyasi (home of bees) · oc brusc (home of bees) · tr arı kovanı (figurative: any place in which people are very busy) · ca rusc (home of bees) · sq kurpi (home of bees) · nl bijenkorf (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · lou rish (home of bees) · dlm buc (home of bees) · cy llestr gwenyn (home of bees) · ltg kūzuls (home of bees) · ota قوغان (home of bees) · az arı səbəti (home of bees) · izh mehiläispatsas (home of bees) · ar قَفِير (home of bees) · hi छत्ता (home of bees) · la mellārium (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · oc bornhon (home of bees) · is býkúpa (home of bees) · de Bienenstock (home of bees) · co bugnu (home of bees) · grc σίμβλος (home of bees) · vo bienabäset (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · gdl kakurt (home of bees) · az pətək (home of bees) · ab а-шьхы́мӡа (home of bees) · he כוורת \ כַּוֶּרֶת (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · ta செயற்கை தேன்கூடு (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · tr arı kovanı (home of bees) · it cofana (hairstyle) · ady бжьэматэ (home of bees) · nn bikube (home of bees) · ca casera (home of bees) · el κυψέλη (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · nl bijennest (home of bees) · nn bikube (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · ang hȳf (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · nl bijenhuif (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · myv нешке (home of bees) · rsk кошнїца (home of bees) · ru у́лей (home of bees) · ru бабе́тта (hairstyle) · nn biekube (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · av найил тӏала (home of bees) · gl colmea (home of bees) · rm aviouler (home of bees) · ar جَبْح (home of bees) · lv strops (home of bees) · nb bikube (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · ar مَنْحَل (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · tl panilan (home of bees) · km បង្គងឃ្មុំ (home of bees) · ar كُوَارَة (home of bees) · nl suikerspinkapsel (hairstyle) · et taru (home of bees) · inh накх (home of bees) · ar خَلِيَّة (home of bees) · ba умарта (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey) · ga beachaire (man-made structure in which bees are kept for their honey)

beehive en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˈbiːhaɪv/
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English beehyve, equivalent to bee + hive.

Meanings

1. (rare, transitive) To fill (a place) with busy activity.
   • The patrons beehiving the place whooped and shouted. 1989, Craig Foley, Blood Knot, page 59:
   • This is not the first time that I learnt of a neighbor's death after a lapse of a few weeks. You just don't see people beehiving a home, like in India […] 2012, Satish C. Bhatnagar, Epsilons and Deltas of Life: Everyday Stories, volume 1, page 16:
   • Quite naturally, if there are more ministers swarming the cabinet rooms and conference halls, then there will be a spate of civil servants beehiving the secretariat. 1958, T. S. Bawa, Jawaharlal Nehru, Nehru's India: An Analytical Study, page 25:
2. (rare, transitive) To style the hair in a hive-shaped or bouffant form.

Forms

Relateds

beekeeper · insect hotel · apiary