beehive: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral
Quick answer
What does “beehive” mean?
A man-made structure, typically a box or straw dome, in which bees are kept to produce honey and pollinate crops.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A man-made structure, typically a box or straw dome, in which bees are kept to produce honey and pollinate crops.
A place or situation characterized by intense, bustling, and productive activity; a crowded, busy space or hairstyle resembling the shape of a beehive.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The term is standard in both.
Connotations
In both varieties, connotations are neutral-to-positive regarding industry, but potentially negative regarding overcrowding.
Frequency
Equal frequency. The hairstyle sense (1960s) is recognized in both but is now historical.
Grammar
How to Use “beehive” in a Sentence
The [PLACE] was a beehive of [ACTIVITY].They keep a beehive in the [LOCATION].Her hair was styled in a beehive.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “beehive” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not commonly used as a verb.
American English
- Not commonly used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not used as an adverb.
American English
- Not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Not commonly used as a pure adjective. Used in compounds: 'beehive-shaped'.
American English
- Not commonly used as a pure adjective. Used in compounds: 'beehive hairdo'.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically: 'The trading floor was a beehive of activity all morning.'
Academic
Used literally in biology/agriculture studies; metaphorically in sociology to describe social organization.
Everyday
Literal: discussing beekeeping or seeing a hive. Metaphorical: describing a busy market or office.
Technical
Refers specifically to a manufactured housing unit for honeybee colonies in apiculture.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “beehive”
- Spelling as two words: 'bee hive'. (Standard is one word: 'beehive'.)
- Using 'beehive' to refer to a wild nest (usually just 'hive' or 'nest').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In modern usage, especially for man-made structures, they are synonyms. 'Beehive' is more specific, while 'hive' can be used more broadly (e.g., 'a hive of villainy').
Yes, 'beehive' or 'beehive hairdo' refers to a woman's hairstyle popular in the 1960s, where the hair is backcombed and piled high on the head in a conical shape resembling a traditional straw beehive.
A 'beehive' (or hive) is the individual structure bees live in. An 'apiary' is the location where multiple beehives are kept; it's the beekeeping equivalent of a farm or yard.
It is generally neutral or positive, emphasizing productive activity ('a beehive of industry'). It can become negative if the emphasis is on chaotic overcrowding ('the overcrowded tenement was a beehive of disease').
A man-made structure, typically a box or straw dome, in which bees are kept to produce honey and pollinate crops.
Beehive is usually neutral in register.
Beehive: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbiːhaɪv/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbiˌhaɪv/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A beehive of activity”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: BEE + HIVE. Bees live in a hive. The word itself is a simple compound of the insect and its home.
Conceptual Metaphor
AN ORGANIZED SOCIETY IS A BEEHIVE; A BUSY PLACE IS A BEEHIVE.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'beehive' LEAST likely to be used metaphorically?