honeycomb

Syllables: hon·ey·comb/ˈhʌnikəʊm/US/ˈhʌniˌkoʊm/

honeycomb noun: a substance made by bees (clade Anthophila) primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells to hold their larvae, and for storing pollen and honey to feed the larvae and themselves when other food is scarce; it is also eaten by humans as part of comb-honey; (countable) a single sheet made up of two layers of this substance. Also the ellipsis of honeycomb stomach.

Noun

honeycomb (countable and uncountable, plural honeycombs)

(uncountable) A substance made by bees (clade Anthophila) primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells to hold their larvae, and for storing pollen and honey to feed the larvae and themselves when other food is scarce; it is also eaten by humans as part of comb-honey; (countable) a single sheet made up of two layers of this substance.
- Pleaſant words are [as] an honycombe, ſweete to the ſoule, and health to the bones.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Proverbs 16:24, column 2
- So vvee read that God manifeſted by the Lots vvhich Saul cauſed to be dravvn [1 Sam[uel] 14.43.] the fault that Jonathan had committed, in eating a honey-comb, contrary to the oath taken by the people.1651, Thomas Hobbes, “Of the Word of God, and of Prophets”, in Leviathan, or The Matter, Forme, & Power of a Common-wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civill, London: […] [William Wilson] for Andrew Crooke...
(broadly, countable) Something resembling honeycomb (noun sense 1) in having numerous cells or small holes.
- The wood porch was a honeycomb of termite tunnels before we replaced it.
- [There is in Thomas Jefferson] evidence of a mind, soured, yet seeking for popularity, and eaten to a honeycomb with ambition, yet weak, confused, uninformed, and ignorant.1797 June 20, John Adams, “To Uriah Forrest”, in The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: […], volume VIII, Boston, Mass.: Little, Brown and Company, published 1853, →OCLC...
1. (broadly, countable) A space-filling packing of polytopes in three- or higher-dimensional space.
2. (broadly) The texture of the surface of a solar cell, intended to increase its surface area and capture more sunlight.
3. (archaic, broadly) A defect in a material (especially metal) where small holes are present; specifically (construction), a defect in concrete consisting of numerous voids resulting from the failure of mortar to effectively fill the spaces among coarse aggregate particles.
4. (broadly) Material manufactured with small hollow cells, sometimes sandwiched between two flat sheets, which is used to make light, stiff structural components.
(countable, figuratively) Something resembling honeycomb in sweetness; hence, something desirable or pleasant.
- [F]or he [Jesus Christ] vvas the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and from him being crucified for our ſinnes, and ſlaine for our redemption, vve receive our honey and our honey-combe, that is to ſay, peace vvith God the Father.1657, Samuel Purchas, “[The Second Part. Being Meditations and Observations, Theologicall, and Morall, upon the Nature of Bees.] The Third Centurie.”, in A Theatre of Politicall Flying-Insects. […]...
- Yes, Frank, what I have is my own, if labour in getting, and care in augmenting, can make a right of property; and no drone shall feed on my honeycomb.1817 December 31 (indicated as 1818), [Walter Scott], chapter II, in Rob Roy. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co. […]; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees...
1. (archaic, countable, figuratively) Used as a term of endearment: honey, sweetheart.
  - Adievv; / My honey-combe hovv ſvveet thou art, […]c. 1623–1624 – 1630s, John Fletcher, Philip Massinger, “The Lovers Progres”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, →OCLC...
  - Svveet Hony-Comb, don't be ſo VVaſpiſh: […]1702, [Colley] Cibber, She Wou’d, and She Wou’d Not, or The Kind Impostor. A Comedy. […], London: […] William Turner […], and John Nutt, […], published 1703, →OCLC, Act III, page 30
2. (Australia, Hong-Kong, UK, attributive, figuratively, often) A crumbly confection usually made by boiling together golden syrup, sugar, bicarbonate of soda, and water.
  - honeycomb toffee

Verb

honeycomb (third-person singular simple present honeycombs, present participle honeycombing, simple past and past participle honeycombed)

(transitive, often passive voice) To riddle (something) with small holes, especially in a pattern resembling a honeycomb (noun sense 1); also, to cause (something) to become hollow or weakened in this way.
- The ordinary tourist who visits the Boulak museum and the Necropolis of Sakkara, and then runs up to the First or the Second Cataract, is apt to think that the subject must be wellnigh exhausted; and is scarcely conscious of the fact that the banks of the Nile from Cairo to Thebes, between which he...1882, Laurence Oliphant, “Old and New”, in The Land of Khemi: Up and Down the Middle Nile, Edinburgh; London: William Blackwood and Sons, →OCLC, page 107
(transitive, often passive voice) To bore cavities or tunnels inside (something).
- Termites will honeycomb a porch made of untreated pine.
- [M]any of the pillars of the temple of Serapis at Puteoli vvere penetrated by theſe animals. […] [T]he pholas muſt have pierced into them ſince they vvere erected; for no vvorkmen vvould have laboured a pillar into form, if it had been honey-combed by vvorms in the quarry.1791, Oliver Goldsmith, “Of Multival[v]e Shell-fish”, in An History of the Earth, and Animated Nature. […], new edition, volume VII, London: […] F[rancis] Wingrave, successor to Mr. [John] Nourse...
(transitive, often passive voice) To decorate (something) with a honeycomb pattern.
(figuratively, transitive, often passive voice, chiefly passive voice) To make way deeply into (something) so as to weaken it; to undermine.
(transitive, often passive voice) To ornament (a ceiling) with honeycomb work (see noun sense 2.4).
(also, archaic, figuratively, intransitive) To become riddled with small holes, especially in a pattern resembling a honeycomb; also, to become hollow or weakened in this way.

Also used as

honeycomb is also the ellipsis of honeycomb stomach.

honeycomb is also the ellipsis of honeycomb work.

honeycomb meaning in Hindi, Tamil, Urdu and Tagalog

honeycomb in Hindi

substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance: छत्ता chattā, मधु कोष madhu koṣ

honeycomb in Tamil

substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance: தேன்கூடு tēṉkūṭu, தேனடை tēṉaṭai
defect in a material where small holes are present; specifically, a defect in concrete consisting of numerous voids: துளைக்கல் tuḷaikkal

honeycomb in Urdu

substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance: چھتا, مدھو کوش mdho koś

honeycomb in Tagalog

substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance: anila

More languagesFewer languages

honeycomb in Arabic: قَرْص اَلْعَسَل qarṣ al-ʕasal
honeycomb in Persian: شان šân, شان عسل šân-e 'asal
honeycomb in Thai: รังผึ้ง rang-pʉ̂ng
honeycomb in Vietnamese: tảng ong

Examples of honeycomb in a sentence

The cells of the bees are perfect hexagons: theſe, in every honeycomb, are double, opening on either ſide, and cloſed at the bottom.1791, Oliver Goldsmith, “Of the Bee”, in An History of the Earth, and Animated Nature. […], new edition, volume VIII, London: […] F[rancis]...
There was chocolate, new milk, honeycomb with its liquid amber droppings fragrant of a thousand flowers, a small loaf, and a little basket of green figs.1831, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter I, in Romance and Reality. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, […]...
[W]as he not / A full-cell'd honeycomb of eloquence / Stored from all flowers?1842, Alfred Tennyson, “[English Idyls and Other Poems. (Published 1842.)] Edwin Morris; or, The Lake”, in Poems, 8th edition, London...
New Alresford is constantly mispronounced, T-shaped, honeycombed with cellars, packed with antique shops, riddled with woodworm, surrounded by watercress.1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 144:

All 24 example sentences with honeycomb

Synonyms of honeycomb

muqarnas

Forms of honeycomb

Noun
plural	honeycombs
alternative form (dated)	honey-comb
Verb
third-person singular present	honeycombs
present participle	honeycombing
past participle	honeycombed
past	honeycombed

Plural of honeycomb: honeycombs

Origin of honeycomb

The noun is derived from Middle English honycomb, from Old English huniġcamb, from huniġ (“honey”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kn̥h₂ónks (“honey”)) + camb (“comb”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ǵómbʰos (“peg; tooth; row of teeth”)). The English word is analysable as honey + comb. The Oxford English Dictionary posits that the arrangement of several plates of wax “hanging parallel to each other from the roof of the hive suggests a comb with its teeth”. The verb is derived from the noun. Compare Saterland Frisian Hunichmoarte (“honeycomb”), West Frisian huningskiif (“honeycomb”), Dutch honingraat (“honeycomb”), German Honigwabe (“honeycomb”).

Phrases with honeycomb

8 more phrasesFewer phrases

Questions about honeycomb

What does honeycomb mean?: Honeycomb means a substance made by bees (clade Anthophila) primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells to hold their larvae, and for storing pollen and honey to feed the larvae and themselves when other food is scarce; it is also eaten by humans as part of comb-honey; (countable) a single sheet made up of two layers of this substance.
What is honeycomb in Hindi?: Honeycomb in Hindi is छत्ता (chattā), मधु कोष (madhu koṣ). See Honeycomb meaning in Hindi.
How do you use honeycomb in a sentence?: The cells of the bees are perfect hexagons: theſe, in every honeycomb, are double, opening on either ſide, and cloſed at the bottom.
What part of speech is honeycomb?: Honeycomb can be a noun or a verb.
How do you pronounce honeycomb?: Honeycomb is pronounced /ˈhʌnikəʊm/ (UK).
What is the plural of honeycomb?: The plural of honeycomb is honeycombs.

Words near honeycomb in the dictionary

Adapted from Wiktionary: honeycomb (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

Last updated: 2026-09-02

Pronunciation audio from Wikimedia Commons, each file under its own free license: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-honeycomb.wav.

Cite this entry: “honeycomb.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/honeycomb. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.