bee-eating
|bee-eat-ing|
/ˈbiːˌiːtɪŋ/
eating bees
Etymology
'bee-eating' originates from English, specifically from the words 'bee' and 'eating'; 'bee' traces to Old English 'bēo' meaning 'bee' and 'eat' traces to Old English 'etan' meaning 'to eat'.
'bee' changed from Old English 'bēo' to Middle English 'bee' and finally to modern English 'bee'; 'eating' developed from Old English 'etan' > Middle English 'eten' with the present participle formation producing 'eating', and the two elements combined as a compound to form 'bee-eating'.
Initially, the components literally meant 'bee' and 'to eat'; combined they have consistently meant 'the act of eating bees' or 'feeding on bees', a meaning retained in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act or habit of eating bees; consumption of bees as food (by animals or, rarely, humans).
Bee-eating has been recorded in several bird species that specialize in hunting bees and wasps.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
feeding on or characterized by eating bees (used to describe animals or dietary habits).
The bee-eating behavior of the bee-eater makes it well adapted to catching insects in flight.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/08 04:36