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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

honeycomb en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • /ˈhʌniˌkoʊm/ (General-American)
  • (Southern-England) audio
  • /ˈhʌnikəʊm/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

The noun is derived from Middle English honycomb, from Old English huniġcamb, from huniġ (“honey”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kn̥h₂ónks (“honey”)) + camb (“comb”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ǵómbʰos (“peg; tooth; row of teeth”)). The English word is analysable as honey + comb. The Oxford English Dictionary posits that the arrangement of several plates of wax “hanging parallel to each other from the roof of the hive suggests a comb with its teeth”. The verb is derived from the noun. Compare Saterland Frisian Hunichmoarte (“honeycomb”), West Frisian huningskiif (“honeycomb”), Dutch honingraat (“honeycomb”), German Honigwabe (“honeycomb”).

Meanings

  1. (uncountable) A substance made by bees (clade Anthophila) primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells to hold their larvae, and for storing pollen and honey to feed the larvae and themselves when other food is scarce; it is also eaten by humans as part of comb-honey; (countable) a single sheet made up of two layers of this substance.
    • The cells of the bees are perfect hexagons: theſe, in every honeycomb, are double, opening on either ſide, and cloſed at the bottom. 1791, Oliver Goldsmith, “Of the Bee”, in An History of the Earth, and Animated Nature. […], new edition, volume VIII, London: […] F[rancis] Wingrave, successor to Mr. [John] Nourse, […], →OCLC, part IV (Of Crustaceous and Testaceous Fishes), page 10:
    • Pleaſant words are [as] an honycombe, ſweete to the ſoule, and health to the bones. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Proverbs 16:24, column 2:
    • So vvee read that God manifeſted by the Lots vvhich Saul cauſed to be dravvn [1 Sam[uel] 14.43.] the fault that Jonathan had committed, in eating a honey-comb, contrary to the oath taken by the people. 1651, Thomas Hobbes, “Of the Word of God, and of Prophets”, in Leviathan, or The Matter, Forme, & Power of a Common-wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civill, London: […] [William Wilson] for Andrew Crooke, […], →OCLC, 3rd part (Of a Christian Common-wealth), page 230:
    • There was chocolate, new milk, honeycomb with its liquid amber droppings fragrant of a thousand flowers, a small loaf, and a little basket of green figs. 1831, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter I, in Romance and Reality. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, page 9:
  2. (broadly, countable) Something resembling honeycomb (noun sense 1) in having numerous cells or small holes.
    • The wood porch was a honeycomb of termite tunnels before we replaced it.
    • [There is in Thomas Jefferson] evidence of a mind, soured, yet seeking for popularity, and eaten to a honeycomb with ambition, yet weak, confused, uninformed, and ignorant. 1797 June 20, John Adams, “To Uriah Forrest”, in The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: […], volume VIII, Boston, Mass.: Little, Brown and Company, published 1853, →OCLC, pages 546–547:
  3. (broadly, countable) Something resembling honeycomb (noun sense 1) in having numerous cells or small holes. ▸ A space-filling packing of polytopes in three- or higher-dimensional space.
  4. (broadly, countable, uncountable) Something resembling honeycomb (noun sense 1) in having numerous cells or small holes. ▸ The texture of the surface of a solar cell, intended to increase its surface area and capture more sunlight.
  5. (archaic, broadly, countable, uncountable) Something resembling honeycomb (noun sense 1) in having numerous cells or small holes. ▸ A defect in a material (especially metal) where small holes are present; specifically (construction), a defect in concrete consisting of numerous voids resulting from the failure of mortar to effectively fill the spaces among coarse aggregate particles.
  6. (broadly, countable, uncountable) Something resembling honeycomb (noun sense 1) in having numerous cells or small holes. ▸ Material manufactured with small hollow cells, sometimes sandwiched between two flat sheets, which is used to make light, stiff structural components.
  7. (abbreviation, alt-of, broadly, countable, ellipsis) Something resembling honeycomb (noun sense 1) in having numerous cells or small holes. ▸ Ellipsis of honeycomb stomach (“the reticulum or second compartment of the stomach of a cow or other ruminant”).
    • Of the four ſtomachs vvith vvhich ruminant animals are furniſhed, the firſt is called the paunch, vvhich receives the food after it has been ſlightly chevved; the ſecond is called the honeycomb, and is properly nothing more than a continuation of the former; […] [1791, Oliver Goldsmith, “Of Ruminating Animals”, in An History of the Earth, and Animated Nature. […], new edition, volume III, London: […] F[rancis] Wingrave, successor to Mr. [John] Nourse, […], →OCLC, page 3:
    • A rudimentall reſemblance hereof there is in the cruciated and rugged folds of the Reticulum, or Net-like Ventricle of ruminating horned animals, vvhich is the ſecond in order, and culinarily called the Honey-comb. [1658, Thomas Browne, “The Garden of Cyrus. […]. Chapter III.”, in Hydriotaphia, Urne-buriall, […] Together with The Garden of Cyrus, […], London: […] Hen[ry] Brome […], →OCLC, page 149:
  8. (abbreviation, alt-of, broadly, ellipsis, uncountable) Something resembling honeycomb (noun sense 1) in having numerous cells or small holes. ▸ Ellipsis of honeycomb work (“especially in Moorish architecture: a form of ceiling ornamentation (especially of an arch or dome) made up of small vaulted arches”).
  9. (countable, figuratively) Something resembling honeycomb in sweetness; hence, something desirable or pleasant.
    • [F]or he [Jesus Christ] vvas the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and from him being crucified for our ſinnes, and ſlaine for our redemption, vve receive our honey and our honey-combe, that is to ſay, peace vvith God the Father. 1657, Samuel Purchas, “[The Second Part. Being Meditations and Observations, Theologicall, and Morall, upon the Nature of Bees.] The Third Centurie.”, in A Theatre of Politicall Flying-Insects. […], London: […] M. S. for Thomas Parkhurst, […], →OCLC, section XXXVI, page 360:
    • [W]as he not / A full-cell'd honeycomb of eloquence / Stored from all flowers? Poet-like he spoke. 1842, Alfred Tennyson, “[English Idyls and Other Poems. (Published 1842.)] Edwin Morris; or, The Lake”, in Poems, 8th edition, London: Edward Moxon, […], published 1853, →OCLC, page 231:
    • Yes, Frank, what I have is my own, if labour in getting, and care in augmenting, can make a right of property; and no drone shall feed on my honeycomb. 1817 December 31 (indicated as 1818), [Walter Scott], chapter II, in Rob Roy. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co. […]; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, →OCLC, page 41:
  10. (archaic, countable, figuratively) Something resembling honeycomb in sweetness; hence, something desirable or pleasant. ▸ Used as a term of endearment: honey, sweetheart.
    • Adievv; / My honey-combe hovv ſvveet thou art, […] c. 1623–1624 – 1630s, John Fletcher, Philip Massinger, “The Lovers Progres”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, →OCLC, Act IV, scene i, page 86, column 2:
    • Svveet Hony-Comb, don't be ſo VVaſpiſh: […] 1702, [Colley] Cibber, She Wou’d, and She Wou’d Not, or The Kind Impostor. A Comedy. […], London: […] William Turner […], and John Nutt, […], published 1703, →OCLC, Act III, page 30:
  11. (Australia, Hong-Kong, UK, attributive, figuratively, often, uncountable) Something resembling honeycomb in sweetness; hence, something desirable or pleasant. ▸ A crumbly confection usually made by boiling together golden syrup, sugar, bicarbonate of soda, and water.
    • honeycomb toffee

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
honey-comb alternative, dated lexicographic
honeycombs Number=Plur lexicographic

Deriveds

honeycomb tripe · honeycomb stitch · honeycomb quilt · fungus comb · honeycomb rock · honeycomb lung · honeycomb moray · honeycomb tetter · honeycomb ground · honeycomb conjecture · comb-honey · hyperhoneycomb · honeycomb scall · honeycomb sponge · honeycomb Izak · honeycomb stone · honeycomb coil · nanohoneycomb · honeycomb moth · honeycomb stomach · honeycomb sandwich · honeycomb coral · honeycomb quartz · honeycomb toffee · honeycomb limestone · honeycomblike · honeycomb pleat · honeycomb radiator · honeycomb ringworm

Relateds

cell

Synonyms

muqarnas

Translations (150)

ur مدھو کوش (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · ta தேனடை (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · hu lép (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · ru со́ты (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · et kärg (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · he חלת דבש (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · vo mielazioybem (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · it cella (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · bo སྦྲང་ཚང (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · ttj ekisasara class 7 (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · ja ハニカム (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · tg шонаи асал (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · sh саће (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · gl entena (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · ca bresca (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · de Wabe (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · pl plaster (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · enm honycomb (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · uz asalari uyasi (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · de Honigwabe (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · wa raiye di låme (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · rsk вощина (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · fo vakskøka (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · scn brisca (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · cy crwybr (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · cmn 蜂巢 (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · fr alvéole (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · et meekärg (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · bg пчелна пита (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · tr gümeç (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · uk сті́льник (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · io vabo (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · cs plástev (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · fr rayon de miel (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · ko 벌집 (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · es panal (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · mk саќе (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · it nido (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · sv vaxkaka (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · lt korys (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · he יערת דבש (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · mi honikoma (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · ota پتك (something resembling honeycomb in having numerous cells or small holes) · ta தேன்கூடு (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · sh сат (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · fi kennosto (texture of the surface of a solar cell) · sh saće (something resembling honeycomb in having numerous cells or small holes) · fi huokoset (defect in a material where small holes are present; specifically, a defect in concrete consisting of numerous voids) · ota كومج (something resembling honeycomb in having numerous cells or small holes) · la favus (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · ota قرنجه (defect in a material where small holes are present; specifically, a defect in concrete consisting of numerous voids) · ka ფუტკრის ფიჭა (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · yue 蜂巢 (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · ota كومج (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · pdt Honnichkorf (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · ur چھتا (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · fi kenno (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · nl raat (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · tr dalak (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · ba күҙәнәк (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · gl zarapata (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · lv kāre (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · sv bikaka (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · tr petek (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · ru со́ты (something resembling honeycomb in having numerous cells or small holes) · pl plaster miodu (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · eo mielchelaro (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · bg шупла (defect in a material where small holes are present; specifically, a defect in concrete consisting of numerous voids) · sl satovje (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · vi tảng ong (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · gd cìr-mheala (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · fa شان (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · ja 蜂巣 (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · ja 蜂の巣 (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · sk plást (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · vo mielaväk (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · fi hunajakenno (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · eu aberaska (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · gl antena (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · ar قَرْص اَلْعَسَل (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · is vaxkaka (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · sl sat (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · sq hoje (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · fa شان عسل (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · ko 벌방 (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · eo mielĉelaro (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · ast seta (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · grc σχαδών (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · sq qengjë (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · fi kennosto (material manufactured with small hollow cells) · nl bijenraat (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · gl favo (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · ta துளைக்கல் (defect in a material where small holes are present; specifically, a defect in concrete consisting of numerous voids) · ota پتك (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · lb Wab (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · kmr şane (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · ja ハニカム (something resembling honeycomb in having numerous cells or small holes) · lb Ros (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · de Bienenwabe (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · fo vakskaka (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · ky аары уясы (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · ro fagure (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · sh саће (something resembling honeycomb in having numerous cells or small holes) · wa tortea d' låme (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · hi छत्ता (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · gl panal (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · tr gümeç (something resembling honeycomb in having numerous cells or small holes) · scn vrisca (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · fi hunaja (something resembling honeycomb in sweetness; something desirable or pleasant) · kk ара ұясы (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · eo mielcxelaro (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · sq huall (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · vo mielaziöbem (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · tl anila (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · fr rayon de ruche (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · gl trevo (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · anq čilemal (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · sh сат (something resembling honeycomb in having numerous cells or small holes) · nl honingraat (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · hi मधु कोष (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · it nido d'api (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · lv šūna (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · mn зөгийн сархинаг (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · bg пита (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · it favo (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · pox varťau (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · sh sat (something resembling honeycomb in having numerous cells or small holes) · el κηρήθρα (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · be со́ты (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · ga cíor mheala (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · fi kennosto (something resembling honeycomb in having numerous cells or small holes) · grc κηρίον (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · sh saće (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · fi hunajakenno (space-filling packing of polytopes in three- or higher-dimensional space) · pt favo (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · cmn 蜂窩 /蜂窝 (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · th รังผึ้ง (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · myv керяз (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · nv tsísʼná bitsiiʼáál (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · kmr şan (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · mi pīhangaiti (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · cy crwybr (something resembling honeycomb in having numerous cells or small holes) · ast bozón (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · wa raive (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · fr alvéole d’abeille (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · uz mumkatak (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · sq krodhë (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · hy մեղրախորիսխ (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · sh sat (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance) · az şan (substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance)

wikipedia: United States Army · wikipedia: Alhambra · wikipedia: Oxford English Dictionary

honeycomb en · VERB

Pronunciation

  • /ˈhʌniˌkoʊm/ (General-American)
  • (Southern-England) audio
  • /ˈhʌnikəʊm/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

The noun is derived from Middle English honycomb, from Old English huniġcamb, from huniġ (“honey”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kn̥h₂ónks (“honey”)) + camb (“comb”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ǵómbʰos (“peg; tooth; row of teeth”)). The English word is analysable as honey + comb. The Oxford English Dictionary posits that the arrangement of several plates of wax “hanging parallel to each other from the roof of the hive suggests a comb with its teeth”. The verb is derived from the noun. Compare Saterland Frisian Hunichmoarte (“honeycomb”), West Frisian huningskiif (“honeycomb”), Dutch honingraat (“honeycomb”), German Honigwabe (“honeycomb”).

Meanings

  1. (qualifier:often passive voice, transitive) To riddle (something) with small holes, especially in a pattern resembling a honeycomb (noun sense 1); also, to cause (something) to become hollow or weakened in this way.
    • The ordinary tourist who visits the Boulak museum and the Necropolis of Sakkara, and then runs up to the First or the Second Cataract, is apt to think that the subject must be wellnigh exhausted; and is scarcely conscious of the fact that the banks of the Nile from Cairo to Thebes, between which he glides so rapidly in a Cook's steamer, or, more tranquilly, journeys in a dahabeeya, are strewn with the mounds of ancient cities, especially on the eastern shore, and that its cliffs are honeycombed with tombs. 1882, Laurence Oliphant, “Old and New”, in The Land of Khemi: Up and Down the Middle Nile, Edinburgh; London: William Blackwood and Sons, →OCLC, page 107:
  2. (qualifier:often passive voice, transitive) To bore cavities or tunnels inside (something).
    • New Alresford is constantly mispronounced, T-shaped, honeycombed with cellars, packed with antique shops, riddled with woodworm, surrounded by watercress. The name - which means 'ford by the alders' - is pronounced 'Allsford'; and no one ever uses 'New', though they do call the adjoining village Old Alresford. 1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 144:
    • Twenty ninja followed him from the darkness and another fifteen took up defensive positions at both ends of the corridor to guard this escape route that led through a maze of forgotten cellars and passages honeycombing the castle to one of Ishido's secret bolt holes under the moat, thence to the city. 1975, James Clavell, chapter LVII, in Shōgun: A Novel of Japan, 1st American edition, volume 2, New York, N.Y.: Atheneum Books, →ISBN, book V, page 967:
    • Termites will honeycomb a porch made of untreated pine.
    • [M]any of the pillars of the temple of Serapis at Puteoli vvere penetrated by theſe animals. […] [T]he pholas muſt have pierced into them ſince they vvere erected; for no vvorkmen vvould have laboured a pillar into form, if it had been honey-combed by vvorms in the quarry. 1791, Oliver Goldsmith, “Of Multival[v]e Shell-fish”, in An History of the Earth, and Animated Nature. […], new edition, volume VII, London: […] F[rancis] Wingrave, successor to Mr. [John] Nourse, […], →OCLC, page 62:
  3. (qualifier:often passive voice, transitive) To decorate (something) with a honeycomb pattern.
  4. (figuratively, qualifier:often passive voice; chiefly passive voice; chiefly passive voice, transitive) To make way deeply into (something) so as to weaken it; to undermine.
  5. (qualifier:often passive voice, transitive) To ornament (a ceiling) with honeycomb work (see noun sense 2.4).
  6. (also, archaic, figuratively, intransitive) To become riddled with small holes, especially in a pattern resembling a honeycomb; also, to become hollow or weakened in this way.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
honeycombed Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
honeycombed Tense=Past lexicographic
honey-comb alternative, dated lexicographic
honeycombs Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
honeycombing Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic

Deriveds

honeycombing · honeycombed

Relateds

favaginous · beeswax

Translations (13)

fi rei’ittää (to riddle (something) with small holes, especially in a pattern resembling a honeycomb; to cause (something) to become hollow or weakened in this way) · fi reikiintyä (to become riddled with small holes, especially in a pattern resembling a honeycomb; to become hollow or weakened in this way) · bg пробивам (to bore cavities or tunnels inside (something)) · fi koristaa kennokuviolla (to decorate (something) with a honeycomb pattern) · bg надупчвам се (to become riddled with small holes, especially in a pattern resembling a honeycomb; to become hollow or weakened in this way) · mi pihangarua (to riddle (something) with small holes, especially in a pattern resembling a honeycomb; to cause (something) to become hollow or weakened in this way) · bg надупча (to riddle (something) with small holes, especially in a pattern resembling a honeycomb; to cause (something) to become hollow or weakened in this way) · bg надупчвам (to riddle (something) with small holes, especially in a pattern resembling a honeycomb; to cause (something) to become hollow or weakened in this way) · ga criathraigh (to riddle (something) with small holes, especially in a pattern resembling a honeycomb; to cause (something) to become hollow or weakened in this way) · bg пробия (to bore cavities or tunnels inside (something)) · fi porautua (to bore cavities or tunnels inside (something)) · fi koristaa stalaktiittiholvein (to ornament (a ceiling) with honeycomb work) · bg надупча се (to become riddled with small holes, especially in a pattern resembling a honeycomb; to become hollow or weakened in this way)

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