honeycomb

1 of 2

noun

hon·​ey·​comb ˈhə-nē-ˌkōm 

1

: a mass of hexagonal wax cells built by honeybees in their nest to contain their brood and stores of honey

2

: something that resembles a honeycomb in structure or appearance

especially : a strong lightweight cellular structural material

honeycomb

2 of 2

verb

honeycombed; honeycombing; honeycombs

transitive verb

1

a

: to cause to be full of cavities like a honeycomb

b

: to make into a checkered pattern : fret

2

a

: to penetrate into every part : fill

b

: subvert, weaken

intransitive verb

: to become pitted, checked, or cellular

Examples of honeycomb in a Sentence

Noun

One of the honeycombs was empty.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

It is barrel-fermented with just a touch of new French oak and has lovely aromas of honeycomb, Fuji apple, and violet, with a bright acidity and flavors of lime, pear, and tangerine. —Jeanette Hurt, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024

Even amongst those who like it, some people prefer only the part that looks like a Turkish towel while others prefer the part that looks like a honeycomb. —Omkar Khandekar, NPR, 15 Dec. 2024

Verb

Basilica Cistern Istanbul Beneath Istanbul, the earth is honeycombed with cisterns, first carved in the sixth century to provide water for the rapidly growing Byzantine city. —Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 July 2024

Its ways are too ossified, and it is honeycombed with fiefs. —Samanth Subramanian Vikas Adam Tanya Pérez Zachary Mouton, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

1735, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Kids Definition

honeycomb

1 of 2 noun

hon·​ey·​comb -ˌkōm 

1

: a mass of six-sided wax cells built by honeybees in their nest to contain young bees and stores of honey

2

: something that resembles a honeycomb in structure or appearance

honeycomb

2 of 2 verb

: to make or become full of holes like a honeycomb

Medical Definition

honeycomb

noun

hon·​ey·​comb -ˌkōm 

: reticulum sense 1