WordGarden.iohoneycomb
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /hˈʌnɪkˌəʊm/
US
- /ˈhəniˌkoʊm/
Meanings
Noun
a structure of wax cells made by bees, often containing honey
a pattern or structure of many adjoining cells or holes
a light, crisp toffee with many small bubbles
Verb
to fill or pierce something with many holes or passages
Beyond the definition
A honeycomb is the wax structure bees build with rows of small hexagonal cells. They use it to store honey and pollen and to raise young bees. The shape is strong and uses space well, which is one reason people often point to it as a smart design in nature. You can also use the word for something that has the same kind of repeating hexagonal pattern.
You might notice this pattern in design, building materials, or anything with many small connected spaces. The word can also be used in a more figurative way for something that feels tightly connected and neatly arranged. A writer might say a novel has a "honeycomb of interwoven stories."
The word "honeycomb" immediately brings to mind the golden, waxy structure built by bees – a marvel of natural architecture. These structures are composed of rows of hexagonal cells, each meticulously crafted from beeswax and used for storing honey, pollen, and raising bee larvae. The hexagon shape isn't just aesthetically pleasing; it's incredibly strong and uses materials efficiently, requiring minimal wax to create maximum storage space.
But "honeycomb" extends beyond the apiary! It can describe anything with a similar repeating hexagonal pattern. Architects might design a building facade with a honeycomb structure for both visual appeal and structural integrity. Engineers use honeycomb patterns in lightweight but strong materials. You'll also find it used metaphorically to suggest complexity, interconnectedness, or intricate organization. A historian might say that the social network of a small town is like a "honeycomb of relationships," where everyone is connected through various shared experiences.
The term even appears in geology! Honeycomb weathering describes a form of erosion that creates pitted surfaces resembling honeycomb cells on certain types of rock. So, whether you're admiring a bee's industrious work, describing a design element, or analyzing a complex system—the word "honeycomb" evokes images of natural efficiency, geometric beauty, and interconnectedness.
Examples
- 1
Beekeeping
The beekeeper lifted out a frame of honeycomb from the hive.
- 2
Food
She bought a jar of honey with pieces of honeycomb in it.
- 3
Tunnels
Beneath the city, the old tunnels formed a honeycomb of narrow passages.
- Patterna honeycomb of + connected spaces
a large number of small connected spaces
See also
Similar
- comb
- beeswax comb
Shades of meaning
- wax cells
- hexagonal grid
Contrast
- solid block
Used with (collocations)
- honeycomb cells
- raw honeycomb
- a piece of honeycomb
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- honeycombnounverb
Forms
- honeycombspluralnounverb
- honeycombedpast tenseverbnoun
- honeycombing-ing formverbnoun