- 1a black and yellow flying insect that can sting. Bees live in large groups and make honey (= a sweet sticky substance that is good to eat) a swarm of bees a bee sting Bees were buzzing in the clover. see beehive, beeswax, bumblebee, queen bee
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- 2a meeting in a group where people combine work, competition, and pleasure a sewing bee see spelling bee Idioms
very busy
an excellent person or thing She thinks she's the bee's knees (= she has a very high opinion of herself).
the basic facts about sex, especially as told to children
to think or talk about something all the time, and to think that it is very important Our teacher has a bee in his bonnet about punctuation.
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