# honeycomb

/ˈhəniˌkoʊm/ (US) · /hˈʌnɪkˌəʊm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/honeycomb
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. bee structure

noun · CEFR B2

the wax structure made of six-sided holes that bees use to store honey and eggs.

For teachers: a structure of hexagonal wax cells formed by honeybees to contain their larvae and store honey and pollen.

- The beekeeper carefully removed a frame covered in golden honeycomb from the hive.
- The intricate geometry of the honeycomb allows bees to store the maximum amount of honey using the minimum amount of wax.

### 2. cellular structure

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a material or object that has many small, regular holes like a bee's nest.

For teachers: a structure or material consisting of a series of hexagonal or similar cells, often used in engineering for strength and lightness.

- The airplane wing uses a honeycomb core to keep it light but very strong.
- Engineers specified a metallic honeycomb panel to provide high thermal resistance while maintaining the structural integrity of the satellite's outer shell.

### 3. sweet treat

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

a light, crunchy sweet made from sugar and soda that looks like a bee's nest inside.

For teachers: a crunchy, aerated confection made from sugar and bicarbonate of soda, characterized by a porous internal structure.

- We bought a large piece of chocolate-covered honeycomb at the seaside fair.
- The pastry chef crumbled homemade honeycomb over the vanilla bean ice cream to add a contrasting texture.

### 5. to weaken or undermine

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

to spread through something in a way that makes it weak or hidden.

For teachers: to spread through or undermine something, often used figuratively to describe secret influence or structural weakening.

- Corruption began to honeycomb the government, leading to its eventual collapse.
- The revolutionary movement had honeycombed the military hierarchy, placing loyalists in key positions long before the uprising began.

## Examples

- The bees built a perfect honeycomb in the corner of the hive.
- Engineers used a honeycomb structure for the aircraft's wing to make it both strong and light.
- The architect designed the facade using a honeycomb pattern, which not only mimicked the natural geometry of the hive but also provided superior acoustic insulation for the interior.

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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.