used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Nothing, in a great city, where we see houses, and streets, and manufactures, and a vast population, all busily engaged, can be more curious than what is to be witnessed in the city of the bees.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading _About the bees._ It is well worth while to attend minutely to the business that is going on in the bee-hive.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Nothing, in a great city, where we see houses, and streets, and manufactures, and a vast population, all busily engaged, can be more curious than what is to be witnessed in the city of the bees.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Nothing, in a great city, where we see houses, and streets, and manufactures, and a vast population, all busily engaged, can be more curious than what is to be witnessed in the city of the bees.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The queen is the mother of all the young bees, for she lays all the eggs from which young ones are hatched.
be present at (meetings, church services, university), etc.
From this reading _About the bees._ It is well worth while to attend minutely to the business that is going on in the bee-hive.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Nothing, in a great city, where we see houses, and streets, and manufactures, and a vast population, all busily engaged, can be more curious than what is to be witnessed in the city of the bees.
bee-hive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _About the bees._ It is well worth while to attend minutely to the business that is going on in the bee-hive.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading When she wishes to lay the eggs, she goes to the cells which have been made by the workers, and having taken a peep into them, drops in her eggs, taking care to distribute them properly.
beesnounUS /biːz/
plural of “bee” — any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species
From this reading _About the bees._ It is well worth while to attend minutely to the business that is going on in the bee-hive.
busilyadverbUS /ˈbɪzəli/
in a busy manner
From this reading Nothing, in a great city, where we see houses, and streets, and manufactures, and a vast population, all busily engaged, can be more curious than what is to be witnessed in the city of the bees.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading _About the bees._ It is well worth while to attend minutely to the business that is going on in the bee-hive.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading When she wishes to lay the eggs, she goes to the cells which have been made by the workers, and having taken a peep into them, drops in her eggs, taking care to distribute them properly.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Nothing, in a great city, where we see houses, and streets, and manufactures, and a vast population, all busily engaged, can be more curious than what is to be witnessed in the city of the bees.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading When she wishes to lay the eggs, she goes to the cells which have been made by the workers, and having taken a peep into them, drops in her eggs, taking care to distribute them properly.
cellsnounUS /selz/
plural of “cell” — any small compartment
From this reading When she wishes to lay the eggs, she goes to the cells which have been made by the workers, and having taken a peep into them, drops in her eggs, taking care to distribute them properly.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading Nothing, in a great city, where we see houses, and streets, and manufactures, and a vast population, all busily engaged, can be more curious than what is to be witnessed in the city of the bees.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading Nothing, in a great city, where we see houses, and streets, and manufactures, and a vast population, all busily engaged, can be more curious than what is to be witnessed in the city of the bees.
distributeverbUS /dɪˈstrɪbjuːt/
administer or bestow, as in small portions
From this reading When she wishes to lay the eggs, she goes to the cells which have been made by the workers, and having taken a peep into them, drops in her eggs, taking care to distribute them properly.
dropsnounUS /drɑːps/
plural of “drop” — a shape that is spherical and small
From this reading When she wishes to lay the eggs, she goes to the cells which have been made by the workers, and having taken a peep into them, drops in her eggs, taking care to distribute them properly.
oval reproductive body of a fowl (especially a hen) used as food
From this reading The queen is the mother of all the young bees, for she lays all the eggs from which young ones are hatched.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading Nothing, in a great city, where we see houses, and streets, and manufactures, and a vast population, all busily engaged, can be more curious than what is to be witnessed in the city of the bees.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The queen is the mother of all the young bees, for she lays all the eggs from which young ones are hatched.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The queen is the mother of all the young bees, for she lays all the eggs from which young ones are hatched.
plural of “go” — a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)
From this reading When she wishes to lay the eggs, she goes to the cells which have been made by the workers, and having taken a peep into them, drops in her eggs, taking care to distribute them properly.
the act of departing
From this reading _About the bees._ It is well worth while to attend minutely to the business that is going on in the bee-hive.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Nothing, in a great city, where we see houses, and streets, and manufactures, and a vast population, all busily engaged, can be more curious than what is to be witnessed in the city of the bees.
hatchedadjectiveUS /hætʃt/
emerged from an egg
From this reading The queen is the mother of all the young bees, for she lays all the eggs from which young ones are hatched.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading When she wishes to lay the eggs, she goes to the cells which have been made by the workers, and having taken a peep into them, drops in her eggs, taking care to distribute them properly.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading When she wishes to lay the eggs, she goes to the cells which have been made by the workers, and having taken a peep into them, drops in her eggs, taking care to distribute them properly.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When she wishes to lay the eggs, she goes to the cells which have been made by the workers, and having taken a peep into them, drops in her eggs, taking care to distribute them properly.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Nothing, in a great city, where we see houses, and streets, and manufactures, and a vast population, all busily engaged, can be more curious than what is to be witnessed in the city of the bees.
ten 10s
From this reading It is said that a single queen will lay six thousand eggs in a single month, and sometimes one hundred thousand in a year!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _About the bees._ It is well worth while to attend minutely to the business that is going on in the bee-hive.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading When she wishes to lay the eggs, she goes to the cells which have been made by the workers, and having taken a peep into them, drops in her eggs, taking care to distribute them properly.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _About the bees._ It is well worth while to attend minutely to the business that is going on in the bee-hive.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading _About the bees._ It is well worth while to attend minutely to the business that is going on in the bee-hive.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading When she wishes to lay the eggs, she goes to the cells which have been made by the workers, and having taken a peep into them, drops in her eggs, taking care to distribute them properly.
laysnounUS /leɪz/
plural of “lay” — a narrative song with a recurrent refrain
From this reading The queen is the mother of all the young bees, for she lays all the eggs from which young ones are hatched.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading When she wishes to lay the eggs, she goes to the cells which have been made by the workers, and having taken a peep into them, drops in her eggs, taking care to distribute them properly.
manufacturesnounUS /ˌmænjəˈfæktʃərz/
plural of “manufacture” — the organized action of making of goods and services for sale
From this reading Nothing, in a great city, where we see houses, and streets, and manufactures, and a vast population, all busily engaged, can be more curious than what is to be witnessed in the city of the bees.
minutelyadverbUS /ˈmɪnətli/
in minute detail
From this reading _About the bees._ It is well worth while to attend minutely to the business that is going on in the bee-hive.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading It is said that a single queen will lay six thousand eggs in a single month, and sometimes one hundred thousand in a year!
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Nothing, in a great city, where we see houses, and streets, and manufactures, and a vast population, all busily engaged, can be more curious than what is to be witnessed in the city of the bees.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading The queen is the mother of all the young bees, for she lays all the eggs from which young ones are hatched.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Nothing, in a great city, where we see houses, and streets, and manufactures, and a vast population, all busily engaged, can be more curious than what is to be witnessed in the city of the bees.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Nothing, in a great city, where we see houses, and streets, and manufactures, and a vast population, all busily engaged, can be more curious than what is to be witnessed in the city of the bees.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading _About the bees._ It is well worth while to attend minutely to the business that is going on in the bee-hive.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It is said that a single queen will lay six thousand eggs in a single month, and sometimes one hundred thousand in a year!
plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The queen is the mother of all the young bees, for she lays all the eggs from which young ones are hatched.
peepverbUS /piːp/
look furtively
From this reading When she wishes to lay the eggs, she goes to the cells which have been made by the workers, and having taken a peep into them, drops in her eggs, taking care to distribute them properly.
populationnounUS /ˌpɑːpjəˈleɪʃən/
the people who inhabit a territory or state
From this reading Nothing, in a great city, where we see houses, and streets, and manufactures, and a vast population, all busily engaged, can be more curious than what is to be witnessed in the city of the bees.
in the right manner; correctly; suitably
From this reading When she wishes to lay the eggs, she goes to the cells which have been made by the workers, and having taken a peep into them, drops in her eggs, taking care to distribute them properly.
the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
From this reading The queen is the mother of all the young bees, for she lays all the eggs from which young ones are hatched.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading It is said that a single queen will lay six thousand eggs in a single month, and sometimes one hundred thousand in a year!
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Nothing, in a great city, where we see houses, and streets, and manufactures, and a vast population, all busily engaged, can be more curious than what is to be witnessed in the city of the bees.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The queen is the mother of all the young bees, for she lays all the eggs from which young ones are hatched.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading It is said that a single queen will lay six thousand eggs in a single month, and sometimes one hundred thousand in a year!
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading It is said that a single queen will lay six thousand eggs in a single month, and sometimes one hundred thousand in a year!
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading It is said that a single queen will lay six thousand eggs in a single month, and sometimes one hundred thousand in a year!
plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Nothing, in a great city, where we see houses, and streets, and manufactures, and a vast population, all busily engaged, can be more curious than what is to be witnessed in the city of the bees.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading When she wishes to lay the eggs, she goes to the cells which have been made by the workers, and having taken a peep into them, drops in her eggs, taking care to distribute them properly.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading When she wishes to lay the eggs, she goes to the cells which have been made by the workers, and having taken a peep into them, drops in her eggs, taking care to distribute them properly.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Nothing, in a great city, where we see houses, and streets, and manufactures, and a vast population, all busily engaged, can be more curious than what is to be witnessed in the city of the bees.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading _About the bees._ It is well worth while to attend minutely to the business that is going on in the bee-hive.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _About the bees._ It is well worth while to attend minutely to the business that is going on in the bee-hive.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading When she wishes to lay the eggs, she goes to the cells which have been made by the workers, and having taken a peep into them, drops in her eggs, taking care to distribute them properly.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading It is said that a single queen will lay six thousand eggs in a single month, and sometimes one hundred thousand in a year!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _About the bees._ It is well worth while to attend minutely to the business that is going on in the bee-hive.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading Nothing, in a great city, where we see houses, and streets, and manufactures, and a vast population, all busily engaged, can be more curious than what is to be witnessed in the city of the bees.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Nothing, in a great city, where we see houses, and streets, and manufactures, and a vast population, all busily engaged, can be more curious than what is to be witnessed in the city of the bees.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading _About the bees._ It is well worth while to attend minutely to the business that is going on in the bee-hive.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Nothing, in a great city, where we see houses, and streets, and manufactures, and a vast population, all busily engaged, can be more curious than what is to be witnessed in the city of the bees.
at the time that
From this reading When she wishes to lay the eggs, she goes to the cells which have been made by the workers, and having taken a peep into them, drops in her eggs, taking care to distribute them properly.
in or at the place that
From this reading Nothing, in a great city, where we see houses, and streets, and manufactures, and a vast population, all busily engaged, can be more curious than what is to be witnessed in the city of the bees.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The queen is the mother of all the young bees, for she lays all the eggs from which young ones are hatched.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading _About the bees._ It is well worth while to attend minutely to the business that is going on in the bee-hive.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading It is said that a single queen will lay six thousand eggs in a single month, and sometimes one hundred thousand in a year!
plural of “wish” — a specific feeling of desire
From this reading When she wishes to lay the eggs, she goes to the cells which have been made by the workers, and having taken a peep into them, drops in her eggs, taking care to distribute them properly.
witnessedverbUS /ˈwɪtnəst/
past form of “witness” — be a witness to
From this reading Nothing, in a great city, where we see houses, and streets, and manufactures, and a vast population, all busily engaged, can be more curious than what is to be witnessed in the city of the bees.
workersnounUS /ˈwɜːrkərz/
plural of “worker” — a person who works at a specific occupation
From this reading When she wishes to lay the eggs, she goes to the cells which have been made by the workers, and having taken a peep into them, drops in her eggs, taking care to distribute them properly.
an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value
From this reading _About the bees._ It is well worth while to attend minutely to the business that is going on in the bee-hive.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading It is said that a single queen will lay six thousand eggs in a single month, and sometimes one hundred thousand in a year!
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The queen is the mother of all the young bees, for she lays all the eggs from which young ones are hatched.
