queen
the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
How often you will meet it
Rank 618 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 31,163 times across 155,168 chapters — 0.015% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 1,000 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
noun
- the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
- a female sovereign ruler also: queen regnant, female monarch
- the wife or widow of a king
- something personified as a woman who is considered the best or most important of her kind Paris is the queen of citiesthe queen of ocean liners
- a competitor who holds a preeminent position also: king, world-beater
- offensive term for a homosexual man also: fagot, faggot, fag, fairy, nance, pansy
queen in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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Wife of Jupiter, and queen of heaven.
Narrative and Lyric Poems (first series) · O. J. [Annotator] Stevenson · Chapter 1
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When first I saw you, nice and clean, It was a sight to show the Queen!
Punchinello, Volume 1, No. 08, May 21, 1870 · Various · Chapter 1
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Among those who had joined the queen was Tresham's great friend, the Grand Prior of St. John's.
A Knight of the White Cross · G. A. (George Alfred) Henty · Chapter 1
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But the King went so often to his dear children that the Queen was offended at his absence.
The Yellow Fairy Book: The Grateful Beasts · World Traditions (Celtic, Norse, Asian & Persian) · Chapter 1
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She had nevertheless an air of incomparable dignity, a grace that charmed, and yet inspired respect, and the carriage of a queen.
Other People's Money · Emile Gaboriau · Chapter 1