- bee
- beebee1 [bē]n.[ME < OE beo < IE base * bhei- > Ger biene, OPrus bitte, OIr bech]any of a large superfamily (Apoidea) of broad-bodied, four-winged, hairy hymenopteran insects that gather pollen and nectar, have biting as well as sucking mouthparts, and often live in organized colonies; esp., the honeybee——————have a bee in one's bonnet1. to be obsessed with one idea2. to be not quite sanebee2 [bē]n.[altered (prob. after BEE1) < dial bean, a social gathering to assist < ME bene, extra feudal service, a favor, boon < OE ben, compulsory service, request; akin to ON bon: see BOON ]☆ a meeting of people to work together or to compete [a sewing bee, spelling bee]bee3 [bē]n.[ME bei, bracelet < OE beah < bugen, to bend: see BOW1]Naut. a piece of wood on each side of the bowsprit of a ship, used for fastening stays from the mast or foremast: in full bee blockbee4 [bē]n.the letter B
English World dictionary. V. Neufeldt. 2014.