WordGarden.iobeehive
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /bˈiːhaɪv/
US
- /ˈbiˌhaɪv/
Meanings
Noun
a nest or kept box where bees live and make honey
a tall rounded hairstyle piled high on the head
Beyond the definition
A beehive is the home of a honeybee colony, a structured place where bees live, raise brood, and store honey. The core idea is coordinated, purposeful activity: thousands of bees working in patterns and fulfilling different roles.
It also has a figurative meaning. A "beehive" can describe any place with intense, busy movement, where many people are active at once. Think of a crowded train station at rush hour or a school hallway between classes—you can picture the whole scene as a beehive of activity.
The image captures energetic, organized movement; sometimes it feels exciting, and sometimes it feels overwhelming.
A beehive is, first and foremost, the home of honeybees—a carefully built structure of wax comb where they raise young, store honey, and organize colony life. Beeswax cells are arranged in hexagonal patterns, which makes the hive surprisingly efficient.
Over time, "beehive" has taken on a broader, figurative sense. It now also describes any place or situation with concentrated, bustling activity. Picture a Saturday morning farmers' market: vendors calling out prices, shoppers moving between stalls, kids dashing about—that whole scene can be called a beehive.
The link between literal and figurative uses is the same image of many individuals engaged in coordinated tasks. In places like a busy newsroom before a live broadcast or an office just after a big announcement, people may be described as a beehive of activity.
The term usually suggests energy and purpose, though it can also imply pressure or chaos when the pace feels too intense.
Examples
- 1
Farming
The farmer keeps several beehives near the apple trees.
- 2
Beekeeping
The beekeeper opened the beehive carefully to check on the queen.
- 3
Hairstyle
In the old photo, her hair is styled in a tall beehive.
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- beehivenoun
Forms
- beehivespluralnoun