beehive

noun

bee·​hive ˈbē-ˌhīv 

plural beehives

1

: hive sense 1

In the spring, two young grizzly bears, just out of a winter's sleep, … knocked over a half-dozen commercial beehives and fed on the honey and larvae within.

—Jim Robbins

2

: something resembling a hive for bees: such as

a

: a scene of crowded activity

… a beehive of growling trucks, riverboats laden with supplies, helicopters and airplanes buzzing overhead …

—National Geographic

b

: a woman's hairstyle that is conical in shape

She is about sixty-five with hair white as spun sugar, piled up in a beehive hairdo that has been out of style for twenty years.

—W. P. Kinsella

beehive adjective

Examples of beehive in a Sentence

The office was a beehive of activity.

wearing her hair in a beehive

Recent Examples on the Web

The eight-episode series follows Meghan in the kitchen, garden and even a stop at the beehive, sharing lifestyle tips and tricks. —Julia Teti, WWD, 2 Jan. 2025

Items include clothes, glasses, books, backpacks, goats, chickens, pigs, sheep, beehives, community wells, meals, emergency shelter, therapy sessions, safe births for mothers, car seats and more. —Nour Rahal, Detroit Free Press, 11 Nov. 2024

La Colombe in Cape Town sells covetable crockery and cutlery designed by local artisans—including a ceramic beehive, a tribute to the region’s honey. —Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 23 Dec. 2024

As election day approached, Pacquiao’s home in General Santos City was a beehive. —Bill Dwyre, Los Angeles Times, 22 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing beehive

• beehive oven

Kids Definition

beehive

1 of 2 noun

bee·​hive

ˈbē-ˌhīv

1

: hive entry 1 sense 1

2

: hive entry 1 sense 2

a beehive of activity

beehive

2 of 2 adjective

: resembling a dome-shaped beehive