B1noun 1K

Bee

🇬🇧 UK /["/biː/"]/ 🇺🇸 US /["/biː/"]/

Meaning of Bee

a black and yellow flying insect that can sting (= touch your skin and make you feel a sharp pain).Bees live in large groups and make honey (= a sweet sticky substance that is good to eat).

In simple words: A small flying insect that makes honey and lives in hives.

Bee in a sentence

• Bees were buzzing in the clover.
• a swarm of bees
• a bee sting
• Butterflies, flies and bees pollinate flowers.
• He was stung by an angry bee.
• Lavender attracts bees.
• The bees swarmed around the hive.
• a sewing bee
• She thinks she's the bee's knees *(= she has a very high opinion of herself)*.
• Our teacher has a bee in his bonnet about punctuation.

How to use Bee

Use 'bee' when talking about the insect itself, especially in nature-related contexts. Avoid it in highly technical discussions about entomology.

Grammar pattern

standalone noun

Memory hint

Bee sounds like 'be' — it makes honey while being busy!

Related words

Collocations with Bee

• bumble
• honey
• killer
• swarm
• attract
• buzz
• hum
• sting (somebody)
• hive
• sting
• keeper
• quilting
• spelling

Synonyms for Bee

• honeybee
• bumblebee
• pollinator

Common mistakes with Bee

• Confused with 'be', the verb form.
• Thinking all flying insects are bees.
• Mispronouncing it as 'bee' instead of the correct 'biː'.

Frequently asked questions about Bee

What does Bee mean?

A small flying insect that makes honey and lives in hives.

What is the definition of Bee?

a black and yellow flying insect that can sting (= touch your skin and make you feel a sharp pain).Bees live in large groups and make honey (= a sweet sticky substance that is good to eat).

How do you use Bee in a sentence?

Bees were buzzing in the clover.

Can you give another example of Bee?

a swarm of bees

What are synonyms for Bee?

Common alternatives include honeybee, bumblebee, pollinator.

What words go with Bee?

It commonly pairs with bumble, honey, killer, swarm, attract, buzz, hum, sting (somebody), hive, sting, keeper, quilting, spelling.

What are common mistakes when using Bee?

Confused with 'be', the verb form. Thinking all flying insects are bees. Mispronouncing it as 'bee' instead of the correct 'biː'.

How do you pronounce Bee?

US: /["/biː/"]/, UK: /["/biː/"]/. Listen to the audio above to hear native pronunciation.

When should I use Bee?

Use 'bee' when talking about the insect itself, especially in nature-related contexts. Avoid it in highly technical discussions about entomology.

What CEFR level is Bee?

"Bee" is at B1 level on the CEFR scale.