Bee
- Pronunciation
- /biː/
- Category
- Taxonomy
- Singular
- Bee
- Plural
- Bees
Definition
A flying insect of the order Hymenoptera and superfamily Apoidea, known for their role in pollination and, in the case of the best-known bee species, the European honey bee, for producing honey and beeswax.
Etymology
Old English 'bēo', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'bij' and German 'Biene'.
Example
Bees are essential pollinators in many ecosystems, contributing to the fertilization of plants by transferring pollen between flowers.
Synonyms
Related Terms
- Pollination
- Hive
- Honey
- Beeswax
- Queen bee
- Worker bee
- Drone
Usage Notes
Bees are social insects and live in colonies that include a single queen, male drones, and female worker bees. There are also solitary bee species.