hives
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a skin condition where you get itchy, red, swollen bumps, often because of an allergy.
a skin condition characterized by itchy, raised, red welts, typically caused by an allergic reaction to food, medicine, or other irritants.
Simple“She broke out in hives after eating a handful of peanuts by mistake.”
In context“The patient presented with acute hives across his torso, which the doctor suspected was a systemic reaction to the new antibiotic.”
UsageUsually used as a plural noun; you 'break out in' or 'have' hives.
- 02 A2 Elementary
more than one hive, which is a place where bees live and make honey.
the plural form of hive, referring to multiple structures or containers where bees are kept.
Simple“The beekeeper checked all ten hives to see how much honey was ready.”
In context“Rows of wooden hives were arranged along the edge of the orchard to ensure the apple trees were properly pollinated.”
Synonyms
Uncertain, but frequently connected with heave, even if such a derivation is phonologically difficult.
See hive
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.