hive

1 of 2

noun

ˈhīv 

1

a

: a container for housing honeybees

b

: the usually aboveground nest of bees

2

: a colony of bees

3

: a place swarming with activity

hiveless

ˈhīv-ləs 

adjective

hive

2 of 2

verb

hived; hiving

intransitive verb

1

of bees : to enter and take possession of a hive

2

: to reside in close association

transitive verb

1

: to collect into a hive

2

: to store up in or as if in a hive

Examples of hive in a Sentence

Noun

The house was a hive of activity as we prepared for the party.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The platform works with a small device, which features nine sensors and can be placed inside hives to monitor bee activity, track visits to flowers, and measure environmental conditions. —Micheline Maynard, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024

The rain and floodwater most likely destroyed the insects’ underground hives and toppled trees or stumps that held nests, said Chris Hayes, an expert with North Carolina State University. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 4 Oct. 2024

The queen lives to lay eggs, the only bee in the hive of say, eighty thousand, who does so. —Krista Stevens, Longreads, 3 Oct. 2024

Photo: Dani Benton Our work on the honeybee farm includes hive health inspections, monitoring colony growth, building hive boxes and, of course, harvesting and processing honey. —Dani Benton, Contributor, CNBC, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English hȳf; perhaps akin to Old Norse hūfr ship's hull, Latin cūpa tub, Sanskrit kūpa cave

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing hive

• hive mind
• hive off

Kids Definition

hive

1 of 2 noun

ˈhīv 

1

a

: a container for housing honeybees

b

: the usually aboveground nest of bees

c

: a colony of bees

2

: a place swarming with busy occupants

hive

2 of 2 verb

hived; hiving

1

a

: to collect into a hive

hive bees

b

: to enter and take over a hive or nesting place

2

: to live or gather in close association

Medical Definition

hive

noun

ˈhīv 

: the raised edematous red patch of skin or mucous membrane characteristic of hives : an urticarial wheal