# drone

/ˈdɹoʊn/ (US) · /dɹˈəʊn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/drone
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. unmanned aircraft

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- The photographer used a drone to get a beautiful view of the wedding from above.
- Military commanders deployed several high-altitude drones to monitor the border without risking the lives of reconnaissance pilots.

### 2. a humming sound

noun · CEFR B2

a low, continuous humming or buzzing noise.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. a male bee

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

For teachers: 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.

### 4. a boring worker

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

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

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

- 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.

### 5. to speak boringly

verb · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

Usage: often used with 'on' or 'on and on'

### 6. to make a low noise

verb · CEFR B2

to make a low, steady humming sound.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- He uses a drone to take aerial photos of the beach.
- The military deployed a drone to monitor the border without putting pilots at risk.
- While hobbyists enjoy flying drones for recreation, the technology has sparked significant debate regarding privacy rights and the ethics of remote warfare in international law.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.