hive

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: a container for housing honeybees
b
: the usually aboveground nest of bees
2
: a colony of bees
3
: a place swarming with activity
hiveless adjective

hive

2 of 2

verb

hived; hiving

intransitive verb

1
of bees : to enter and take possession of a hive
2
: to reside in close association

transitive verb

1
: to collect into a hive
2
: to store up in or as if in a hive

Examples of hive in a Sentence

Noun The house was a hive of activity as we prepared for the party.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
These include: Flushing or warmth Chest pain Fast heartbeat Anxiety Breathing problems or tightness in the throat Swelling, rash, hives, or itching Side effects of glatiramer acetate typically go away on their own within 15 to 30 minutes, the FDA said. Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 28 Jan. 2025 By recording when bees entered and exited their hives, scientists from Penn State University (PSU) discovered that, while most journeys last only a few minutes, a minority of bees can spend up to two hours outside the hive foraging for food, according to a statement from the university last week. Jack Guy, CNN, 28 Jan. 2025 Allergic reactions to food can also cause hives, flushed skin, vomiting and/or diarrhea, abdominal cramps, coughing or wheezing, dizziness, swelling of the throat and vocal cords, difficulty breathing, and a drop in blood pressure. John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025 When exposed, people with a gluten allergy may experience an itchy rash or hives, often red (slightly darker or lighter depending on skin tone) and inflamed.7 Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is a chronic skin condition caused by celiac disease. Daniel More, Verywell Health, 17 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for hive 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English hȳf; perhaps akin to Old Norse hūfr ship's hull, Latin cūpa tub, Sanskrit kūpa cave

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hive was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near hive

Cite this Entry

“Hive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hive. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

hive

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: a container for housing honeybees
b
: the usually aboveground nest of bees
c
: a colony of bees
2
: a place swarming with busy occupants

hive

2 of 2 verb
hived; hiving
1
a
: to collect into a hive
hive bees
b
: to enter and take over a hive or nesting place
2
: to live or gather in close association

Medical Definition

hive

noun
: the raised edematous red patch of skin or mucous membrane characteristic of hives : an urticarial wheal

More from Merriam-Webster on hive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!