ENGLISH
REFERENCE

drone

n. · v.
US //ˈdɹoʊn// UK //dɹˈəʊn// drone
  1. 1 unmanned aircraft (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a small aircraft without a pilot that is controlled from the ground.

    an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or ship that can navigate autonomously or be guided remotely.

    Example

    The photographer used a drone to get a beautiful view of the wedding from above.

    Example

    Military commanders deployed several high-altitude drones to monitor the border without risking the lives of reconnaissance pilots.
    • UAV
    • unmanned aircraft
  2. 2 a humming sound (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a low, continuous humming or buzzing noise.

    a continuous low-pitched humming or buzzing sound, often mechanical or vocal in origin.

    Example

    The constant drone of the air conditioner made it hard to sleep.

    Example

    The distant drone of traffic from the motorway provided a constant acoustic backdrop to life in the suburban village.
Show 4 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 a male bee (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Science

    a male bee that does not work and whose only job is to mate with the queen.

    a male honeybee or other social insect that is stingless and performs no work in the hive.

    Example

    In the winter, the worker bees often push the drones out of the hive to save food.

    Example

    The primary biological function of the drone is to fertilize a receptive queen during her nuptial flight.
  2. 4 a boring worker (n.)
    C1 Advanced Informal

    a person who does boring or repetitive work for someone else.

    a person who performs menial or tedious tasks, often perceived as lacking individuality or agency.

    Example

    He felt like just another office drone, staring at spreadsheets all day.

    Example

    The corporate culture was criticized for treating junior analysts as mindless drones rather than valued contributors.
  3. 5 to speak boringly (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to talk for a long time in a very boring, flat voice.

    to speak in a monotonous, tedious, and repetitive tone.

    Example

    The teacher droned on about history until half the class was asleep.

    Example

    The guest speaker droned on for nearly an hour, failing to notice that the audience had grown restless and disinterested.

    Usage

    often used with 'on' or 'on and on'
  4. 6 to make a low noise (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to make a low, steady humming sound.

    to produce a sustained low-pitched hum or buzz.

    Example

    The old refrigerator droned loudly in the quiet kitchen.

    Example

    As the heavy machinery began to drone, the floorboards in the workshop started to vibrate in sympathy.
Etymology 1

From Middle English drane, from Old English drān, from Proto-West Germanic drānu, from Proto-Germanic drēniz, drēnuz, drenô (“an insect, drone”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰreh₁n- (“bee, drone, hornet”). Cognate with Danish drone (“drone”), Dutch dar (“male bee or wasp”), German Drohne, dialectal German Dräne, Trehne, Trene (“drone”), Low German drone (“drone”), Swedish drönje, drönare (“drone”). The etymology of the sense of "remote-controlled aircraft" is disputed; theories include early military UAVs dumbly flying on preset paths.

Etymology 2

From Middle English drounen (“to roar, bellow”), from Proto-West Germanic drunnjan, from Proto-Germanic drunjaną (“to drone, roar, make a sound”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰer- (“to roar, hum, drone”). Cognate with Scots drune (“to drone, moan, complain”), Dutch dreunen (“to drone, boom, thud”), Low German drönen (“to drone, buzz, hum”), German dröhnen (“to roar, boom, rumble”), Danish drøne (“to roar, boom, peel out”), Swedish dröna (“to low, bellow, roar”), Icelandic drynja (“to roar”).

© 2026 English Reference