drone
(droʊn )
Word forms: drones , droning , droned
1. verb
If something drones, it makes a low, continuous, dull noise.
Above him an invisible plane droned through the night sky. [VERB]
...a virtually non-stop droning noise in the background. [VERB-ing]
Synonyms: hum, buzz, vibrate, purr
Drone is also a noun.
...the constant drone of the motorways. [+ of]
droning singular noun
...the droning of a plane far overhead. [+ of]
Synonyms: humming, buzzing, vibrating, purring
Synonyms: monotonous, boring, tedious, drawling
2. verb
If you say that someone drones, you mean that they keep talking about something in a boring way. [disapproval]
Chambers' voice droned, maddening as an insect around his head. [VERB]
The droning murmur of the doctor's voice in the bedroom had ceased. [VERB-ing]
Drone is also a noun.
The minister's voice was a relentless drone.
Drone on means the same as drone.
Aunt Maimie's voice droned on. [VERB PARTICLE]
Daniel just drones on about American policy. [V P + about]
3. countable noun [usually plural]
People who do not contribute anything to society or to an organization are sometimes described as drones. [disapproval]
A few are dim-witted drones, but most are talented, frustrated, wasted people.
Synonyms: parasite, skiver [British, slang], idler, lounger
4. countable noun
A drone is a male bee.
5. countable noun
A drone is a type of aircraft that does not have a pilot and is controlled by someone on the ground.
Drones frequently pass over this region.
Phrasal verbs:
drone on drone [sense 2]
Image of drone
© ProstoSvet, Shutterstock
Collocations:
armed drone fly a drone spy drone surveillance drone unmanned drone
Under normal circumstances his vehicle would have been targeted by an armed drone.
Times, Sunday Times
This was the first time an armed drone was used in war.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
Under the plan, an extra 800 million will be invested in surveillance, armed drones and other equipment.
Times, Sunday Times
Doubling our fleet of armed drones to 20 will enable precise strikes.
Times, Sunday Times
It explores the advent of a new kind of war, fought with unmanned, armed drones piloted by young people recruited for their skill at video games.
Times, Sunday Times
I understand now why the experts suggest you learn to fly a drone with a cheap toy before using one with an expensive camera.
Times, Sunday Times
Under present rules, recreational users cannot fly a drone weighing over 20kg.
Times, Sunday Times
You should need a licence to fly a drone.
The Sun
They are believed to have been arrested for flying a drone without a licence.
Times, Sunday Times
The security guard admitted flying the drones over congested areas without permission.
The Sun
Airborne cameras on the spy drone, which cost 6,000, are so far estimated to have identified nearly 1.2 million in unpaid tax.
Times, Sunday Times
The investigation revealed that a soldier with no past experience could be in charge of piloting a spy drone after only 25 hours of flying practice.
Times, Sunday Times
The dozen spy drones being supplied could be delivered within a year.
Times, Sunday Times
Military bases operating spy drones overseas have also proliferated.
Times, Sunday Times
It was intended to power the tiny wings of spy drones built to look like dragonflies.
Times, Sunday Times
He has built himself a surveillance drone.
Times, Sunday Times
As surveillance drones hovered overhead, two helicopter gunships are believed to have tried to land on the other side of the city.
Times, Sunday Times
Future conflicts would require cheaper, more adaptable equipment, such as protected transporters, light naval vessels for coastal waters, surveillance drones and intelligence-gathering assets, he said.
Times, Sunday Times
Guerrilla warfare breaks out against a backdrop of burning skylines, police choppers and unmanned surveillance drones.
The Sun
Extensive measures, ranging from surveillance drones to a huge security fence, are being used to protect the summit.
Times, Sunday Times
Although for now, flying this unmanned drone needs three pilots.
Times, Sunday Times
He had already spent three days covertly watching the rebels, using live images beamed down from an unmanned drone circling thousands of feet above them.
The Sun
I later found out that it even blew an unmanned drone, thousands of feet above, off course.
The Sun
They stopped and got out the motor after hearing the unmanned drone buzzing above them.
The Sun
As they converge on a mine, an unmanned drone monitors the bees.
Times, Sunday Times
Translations:
Chinese: 发出单调连续的低声
Japanese: ブーンとうなる
- get a grip
- get a grip on something
- get a grip on yourself
- get ahead
- get a high
- get ahold of oneself
- get ahold of sb
- get ahold of sb/sth/ grab ahold of sb/sth
- get ahold of sth
- get airplay
- get a jump on
- get a jump on/get the jump on
- get a jump on someone
- getake the measure of sb
- getake the measure of sth
- get a laugh
- get a life
- get a life
- get a line on someone
- get along
- get a lot of stick
- get a move on
- get a move on
- get an answer
- get an autograph