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 brain is a bit like a beehive, where a neuron is the queen, Macaulay says. —Jon Hamilton, NPR, 2 Sep. 2024

In addition, a huge swimming pool was part of the backyard entertainment, and Garner set up a farm on the property, complete with vegetable gardens, a beehive, and chickens. —Michelle Duncan, Architectural Digest, 15 Aug. 2024

And Answers For Thursday, September 5 From Hive to Honey Jar This Sonoran Desert beehive onsite at Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows aims to connect citygoers with nature. —Kaila Yu, Forbes, 4 Sep. 2024

The hotel has taken steps to become more sustainable, including installing two beehives on the hotel rooftop and sorting waste with Take a Waste. —Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 12 June 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