bee
1 of 4noun (1)
ˈbē 
1
: any of numerous hymenopterous insects (superfamily Apoidea) that differ from the related wasps especially in the heavier hairier body and in having sucking as well as chewing mouthparts, that feed on pollen and nectar, and that store both and often also honey see africanized bee, bumblebee, carpenter bee, honeybee, sweat bee
2
: an eccentric notion : fancy
beelike
ˈbē-ˌlīk
adjective bee
2 of 4noun (2)
: the letter b
bee
3 of 4noun (3)
: a gathering of people for a specific purpose
a quilting bee
BEE
4 of 4abbreviation
bachelor of electrical engineering
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- caprice
- crank
- fancy
- freak
- humor
- kink
- maggot
- megrim
- notion
- vagary
- vagrancy
- whim
- whimsy
- whimsey
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English, from Old English bēo; akin to Old High German bīa bee, Old Irish bech, Lithuanian bitis
Noun (3)
perhaps from English dialect been help given by neighbors, from Middle English bene prayer, boon, from Old English bēn prayer — more at boon entry 1
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun (3)
1769, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing bee
Kids Definition
bee
noun
ˈbē
1
: an insect with four wings that is related to the wasps, gathers pollen and nectar from flowers from which it makes beebread and honey for food, and usually lives in large colonies
2
: a gathering of people to do something together or engage in a competition
a spelling bee
Medical Definition
bee
noun
ˈbē
: honeybee
broadly : any of numerous hymenopteran insects (superfamily Apoidea) that differ from the related wasps especially in the heavier hairier body and in having sucking as well as chewing mouthparts, that feed on pollen and nectar, and that store both and often also honey see africanized bee
bee in one's bonnet
phrase
as in whim
a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action She suddenly got a bee in her bonnet to quit her job and become a painter. Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- whim
- notion
- bee
- vagary
- caprice
- freak
- whimsy
- humor
- maggot
- vagrancy
- fancy
- crank
- megrim
- kink
- thought
- fantasy
- impression
- whimsey
- concept
- mind's eye
- capriciousness
- conception
- picture
- image
- whimsicality
- freakishness
- impetuosity
- fancifulness
- inspiration
- conceit
- phantasy
- brainstorm