bee-eater: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Specialist/Technical (primarily ornithological), occasionally literary.
Quick answer
What does “bee-eater” mean?
A brightly coloured bird (family Meropidae) that feeds primarily on flying insects, especially bees and wasps.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A brightly coloured bird (family Meropidae) that feeds primarily on flying insects, especially bees and wasps.
The term is sometimes used metaphorically to describe a person or entity that consumes or exploits something in a relentless manner, though this usage is rare and often humorous.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences; the same term is used in both varieties for the bird. However, British English speakers are more likely to encounter or use the term due to the presence of the European bee-eater (*Merops apiaster*) as a rare visitor.
Connotations
Neutral ornithological term. In both varieties, it may evoke images of exotic, colourful birds.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse. Slightly higher recognition in the UK due to occasional media coverage of migratory sightings.
Grammar
How to Use “bee-eater” in a Sentence
The [species name] bee-eater + verb (e.g., nests, feeds, migrates).A bee-eater + prepositional phrase (e.g., with brilliant plumage, of the savanna).Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in ornithology, zoology, and ecology texts.
Everyday
Used by birdwatchers, in nature documentaries, or in travel writing about regions where they are common.
Technical
Standard term in zoological classification and field guides.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bee-eater”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bee-eater”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bee-eater”
- Spelling as 'be eater' or 'bee eater' without the hyphen. The standard orthography is hyphenated: bee-eater.
- Using it as a general term for any insect-eating bird.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a hyphenated compound word: bee-eater.
Bee-eaters are found in warm regions of the Old World (Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australasia), often in open country near rivers or sandbanks suitable for nesting.
No. While bees and wasps are a major part of their diet, they also eat other flying insects like dragonflies and hornets. They have techniques to remove stingers before eating.
It is very rare, but it can be used humorously or creatively to describe a person who voraciously consumes or deals with a particular thing (e.g., 'a spreadsheet bee-eater'). It is not a common metaphorical expression.
A brightly coloured bird (family Meropidae) that feeds primarily on flying insects, especially bees and wasps.
Bee-eater is usually specialist/technical (primarily ornithological), occasionally literary. in register.
Bee-eater: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbiː iːtə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbi ˌiːt̬ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a bird that's a dedicated **bee** specialist for its main **eater**y. The hyphen links its job (eating bees) to its identity.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPECIALIST IS A CONSUMER (e.g., 'That lawyer is a contract bee-eater').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of a bee-eater?