*bee*

. (Zool.) A bark beetle that makes and feeds on ambrosia{ 4 }. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

(Zool.) A small beetle of many species (family Scolytidæ), which in the larval state bores under or in the bark of trees, often doing great damage. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Bawbee. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Perh. corrupt. fr. halfpenny. ] A halfpenny. [ Spelt also baubee. ] [ Scot. & Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Written also bibiru. ] [ Native name. ] (Bot.) A tropical South American tree (Nectandra Rodiœi), the bark of which yields the alkaloid bebeerine, and the wood of which is known as green heart. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

{ or } n. (Chem.) An alkaloid got from the bark of the bebeeru, or green heart of Guiana (Nectandra Rodiœi). It is a tonic, antiperiodic, and febrifuge, and is used in medicine as a substitute for quinine. [ Written also bibirine. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

p. p. of Be; -- used for been. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. beó; akin to D. bij and bije, Icel. b&ymacr_;, Sw. & Dan. bi, OHG. pini, G. biene, and perh. Ir. beach, Lith. bitis, Skr. bha. √97. ] 1. (Zool.) An insect of the order Hymenoptera, and family Apidæ (the honeybees), or family Andrenidæ (the solitary bees.) See Honeybee. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ There are many genera and species. The common honeybee (Apis mellifica) lives in swarms, each of which has its own queen, its males or drones, and its very numerous workers, which are barren females. Besides the Apis mellifica there are other species and varieties of honeybees, as the Apis ligustica of Spain and Italy; the Apis Indica of India; the Apis fasciata of Egypt. The bumblebee is a species of Bombus. The tropical honeybees belong mostly to Melipoma and Trigona. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A neighborly gathering of people who engage in united labor for the benefit of an individual or family; as, a quilting bee; a husking bee; a raising bee. [ U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The cellar . . . was dug by a bee in a single day. S. G. Goodrich. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. pl. [ Prob. fr. AS. beáh ring, fr. b&unr_;gan to bend. See 1st Bow. ] (Naut.) Pieces of hard wood bolted to the sides of the bowsprit, to reeve the fore-topmast stays through; -- called also bee blocks. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bee beetle (Zool.), a beetle (Trichodes apiarius) parasitic in beehives. --
Bee bird (Zool.), a bird that eats the honeybee, as the European flycatcher, and the American kingbird. --
Bee flower (Bot.), an orchidaceous plant of the genus Ophrys (Ophrys apifera), whose flowers have some resemblance to bees, flies, and other insects. --
Bee fly (Zool.), a two winged fly of the family Bombyliidæ. Some species, in the larval state, are parasitic upon bees. --
Bee garden, a garden or inclosure to set beehives in ; an apiary. Mortimer. --
Bee glue, a soft, unctuous matter, with which bees cement the combs to the hives, and close up the cells; -- called also propolis. --
Bee hawk (Zool.), the honey buzzard. --
Bee killer (Zool.), a large two-winged fly of the family Asilidæ (esp. Trupanea apivora) which feeds upon the honeybee. See Robber fly. --
Bee louse (Zool.), a minute, wingless, dipterous insect (Braula cæca) parasitic on hive bees. --
Bee martin (Zool.), the kingbird (Tyrannus Carolinensis) which occasionally feeds on bees. --
Bee moth (Zool.), a moth (Galleria cereana) whose larvæ feed on honeycomb, occasioning great damage in beehives. --
Bee wolf (Zool.), the larva of the bee beetle. See Illust. of Bee beetle. --
To have a bee in the head or
To have a bee in the bonnet. (a) To be choleric. [ Obs. ] (b) To be restless or uneasy. B. Jonson. (c) To be full of fancies; to be a little crazy. “She's whiles crack-brained, and has a bee in her head.” Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. a perennial herb (Monarda fistulosa) of North America. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. a perennial aromatic herb of eastern North America (Monarda didyma) having variously colored tubular flowers in dense showy heads.
Syn. -- bee balm, bergamot mint, oswego tea. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

3. a bushy perennial Old World mint, Melissa officinalis, having small white or yellowish flowers and fragrant lemon-flavored leaves; a garden escapee in northern Europe and North America.
Syn. -- lemon balm, garden balm, sweet balm, bee balm, Melissa officinalis. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. A brown, bitter substance found in some of the cells of honeycomb. It is made chiefly from the pollen of flowers, which is collected by bees as food for their young. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Beeches [ OE. beche, AS. b&unr_;ce; akin to D. beuk, OHG. buocha, G. buche, Icel. beyki, Dan. bög, Sw. bok, Russ. buk, L. fagus, Gr. &unr_; oak, &unr_; to eat, Skr. bhaksh; the tree being named originally from the esculent fruit. See Book, and cf. 7th Buck, Buckwheat. ] (Bot.) A tree of the genus Fagus. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ It grows to a large size, having a smooth bark and thick foliage, and bears an edible triangular nut, of which swine are fond. The Fagus sylvatica is the European species, and the Fagus ferruginea that of America. [ 1913 Webster ]

Beech drops (Bot.), a parasitic plant which grows on the roots of beeches (Epiphegus Americana). --
Beech marten (Zool.), the stone marten of Europe (Mustela foina). --
Beech mast, the nuts of the beech, esp. as they lie under the trees, in autumn. --
Beech oil, oil expressed from the mast or nuts of the beech tree. --
Cooper beech, a variety of the European beech with copper-colored, shining leaves. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ AS. b&unr_;cen. ] Consisting, or made, of the wood or bark of the beech; belonging to the beech. “Plain beechen vessels.” Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The nut of the beech tree. [ 1913 Webster ]

The beech. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or relating to beeches. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) (a) A bird of the genus Merops, that feeds especially on bees. The European species (Merops apiaster) is remarkable for its brilliant colors. (b) An African bird of the genus Rhinopomastes. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of, pertaining to, or resembling, beef. [ 1913 Webster ]

Beef tea, essence of beef, or strong beef broth. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. boef, befe, beef, OF. boef, buef, F. bœef, fr. L. bos, bovis, ox; akin to Gr. boy^s, Skr. gō cow, and E. cow. See 2d Cow. ] 1. An animal of the genus Bos, especially the common species, Bos taurus, including the bull, cow, and ox, in their full grown state; esp., an ox or cow fattened for food. [ In this, which is the original sense, the word has a plural, beeves ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A herd of beeves, fair oxen and fair kine. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The flesh of an ox, or cow, or of any adult bovine animal, when slaughtered for food. [ In this sense, the word has no plural. ] “Great meals of beef.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Applied colloquially to human flesh. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a hardy breed of beef cattle derived as a cross between the American bison and domestic cattle, usually being genetically 3/8 bison and 5/8 domestic bovine; -- it yields leaner beef than conventional breeds. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. a fried cake of minced beef served on a bun.
Syn. -- hamburger. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Beef + eater; prob. one who eats another's beef, as his servant. Cf. AS. hlāf&aemacr_;ta servant, properly a loaf eater. ] 1. One who eats beef; hence, a large, fleshy person. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One of the yeomen of the guard, in England. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) An African bird of the genus Buphaga, which feeds on the larvæ of botflies hatched under the skin of oxen, antelopes, etc. Two species are known. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. made greater or stronger. beefed-up sales efforts [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. any dipterous insect of the family Bombyliidae, which eat nectar and in some cases resemble bees. Their larvae are parasitic on the larvae of bees and other insects. [ WordNet 1.5 + PJC ]

n. A steak of beef; a slice of beef broiled or suitable for broiling. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Stupid; dull. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An Australian tree (Casuarina), and its red wood, used for cabinetwork; also, the trees Stenocarpus salignus of New South Wales, and Banksia compar of Queensland. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having much beef; of the nature of beef; resembling beef; fleshy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A hive for a swarm of bees. Also used figuratively. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ A common and typical form of beehive was a domeshaped inverted basket, whence certain ancient Irish and Scotch architectural remains are called beehive houses. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A house for bees; an apiary. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Bot.) See Larkspur. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Beild. Fairfax. [ 1913 Webster ]

The shortest line from one place to another, like that of a bee to its hive when loaded with honey; an air line. “A bee line for the brig.” Kane. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The title of a heathen deity to whom the Jews ascribed the sovereignty of the evil spirits; hence, the Devil or a devil. See Baal. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. bēme, b&ymacr_;me. ] A trumpet. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who keeps bees. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ OE. beon, ben, bin, p. p. of been, beon, to be. See Be. ] The past participle of Be. In old authors it is also the pr. tense plural of Be. See 1st Bee. [ 1913 Webster ]

Assembled been a senate grave and stout. Fairfax. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. beor, ber, AS. beór; akin to Fries. biar, Icel. bj&unr_;rr, OHG. bior, D. & G. bier, and possibly E. brew. √93, See Brew. ] 1. A fermented liquor made from any malted grain, but commonly from barley malt, with hops or some other substance to impart a bitter flavor. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Beer has different names, as small beer, ale, porter, brown stout, lager beer, according to its strength, or other qualities. See Ale. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A fermented extract of the roots and other parts of various plants, as spruce, ginger, sassafras, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Small beer, weak beer; (fig.) insignificant matters. “To suckle fools, and chronicle small beer.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a protruding potbelly caused by excessive drinking of beer.
Syn. -- beer gut. [ PJC ]

In one of the less surprising revelations of the year, researchers at the University of North Carolina (UNC) and colleagues have confirmed that excessive consumption of beer can lead to the condition commonly known as beer belly. At the same time, however, they discovered that, beyond aesthetic concerns, the condition may point to health hazards of a more serious nature. In a comparison of beer drinkers and wine drinkers, the scientists found that beer tends to build a central paunch, or “potbelly”, while wine drinkers tend to have narrower waists, even when the same amount of alcohol and calories is consumed by both. The Scientist -- December 11, 1995.

n. [ Beer + eager. ] Sour beer. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. same as beer belly.
Syn. -- beer gut. [ PJC ]

n. A house where malt liquors are sold; an alehouse. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Beery condition. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or resembling beer; affected by beer; maudlin. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Biestings. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. pl. [ OE. bestynge, AS. b&ymacr_;sting, fr. b&ymacr_;st, beost; akin to D. biest, OHG. biost, G. biest; of unknown origin. ] The first milk given by a cow after calving. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

The thick and curdy milk . . . commonly called biestings. Newton. (1574). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The wax secreted by bees, and of which their cells are constructed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The second crust formed in port and some other wines after long keeping. It consists of pure, shining scales of tartar, supposed to resemble the wing of a bee. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. bete, from L. beta. ] 1. (Bot.) A biennial plant of the genus Beta, which produces an edible root the first year and seed the second year. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The root of plants of the genus Beta, different species and varieties of which are used for the table, for feeding stock, or in making sugar. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ There are many varieties of the common beet (Beta vulgaris). The Old “white beet”, cultivated for its edible leafstalks, is a distinct species (Beta Cicla). [ 1913 Webster ]