drone

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a low, continuous humming or buzzing noise.

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

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

“The distant drone of traffic from the motorway provided a constant acoustic backdrop to life in the suburban village.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Science Technical

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

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

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

“The primary biological function of the drone is to fertilize a receptive queen during her nuptial flight.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal

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

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

Español:timado

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

“The corporate culture was criticized for treating junior analysts as mindless drones rather than valued contributors.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

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

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

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

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

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to make a low, steady humming sound.

v. to produce a sustained low-pitched hum or buzz.

“The old refrigerator droned loudly in the quiet kitchen.”

“As the heavy machinery began to drone, the floorboards in the workshop started to vibrate in sympathy.”