A flyinginsect, of the clade Anthophila within the hymenopteran superfamily Apoidea, known for its organised societies (though only a minority have them), for collecting pollen and (in some species) producing wax and honey.
From Middle English bee, from Old English bēo, from Proto-Germanic *bijō, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰey-.
Possibly from dialectal bene, been, bean, from Middle English been, bene, from Old English bēn ("prayer, request, petition, favour, compulsory service") from Proto-Germanic *bōniz ("prayer, request, supplication"). Thus a variant of obsolete ben and boon. Cognate with Danish bøn ("prayer"), Dutch ban ("curse"), German Bann ("ban"). More at ban.
From Middle English beeȝ, bie, bei, begh, beiȝe, bege, beah, bye, from Old English bēah, bēag, from Proto-Germanic *baugaz. beag, a learned borrowing.
Variant spellings.
From Middle English, from Old English be, from Latin be.
Probably from Old English bēah ("ring"). Compare bow.
Modern English dictionary
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