☞ There are many genera and species. The common honeybee (Apis mellifica) lives in swarms, each of which has its own queen, its males or drones, and its very numerous workers, which are barren females. Besides the Apis mellifica there are other species and varieties of honeybees, as the Apis ligustica of Spain and Italy; the Apis Indica of India; the Apis fasciata of Egypt. The bumblebee is a species of Bombus. The tropical honeybees belong mostly to Melipoma and Trigona. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A neighborly gathering of people who engage in united labor for the benefit of an individual or family; as, a quilting bee; a husking bee; a raising bee. [ U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The cellar . . . was dug by a bee in a single day. S. G. Goodrich. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. pl. [ Prob. fr. AS. beáh ring, fr. b&unr_;gan to bend. See 1st Bow. ] (Naut.) Pieces of hard wood bolted to the sides of the bowsprit, to reeve the fore-topmast stays through; -- called also bee blocks. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bee beetle (Zool.), a beetle (Trichodes apiarius) parasitic in beehives. --
Bee bird (Zool.), a bird that eats the honeybee, as the European flycatcher, and the American kingbird. --
Bee flower (Bot.), an orchidaceous plant of the genus Ophrys (Ophrys apifera), whose flowers have some resemblance to bees, flies, and other insects. --
Bee fly (Zool.), a two winged fly of the family Bombyliidæ. Some species, in the larval state, are parasitic upon bees. --
Bee garden, a garden or inclosure to set beehives in ; an apiary. Mortimer. --
Bee glue, a soft, unctuous matter, with which bees cement the combs to the hives, and close up the cells; -- called also propolis. --
Bee hawk (Zool.), the honey buzzard. --
Bee killer (Zool.), a large two-winged fly of the family Asilidæ (esp. Trupanea apivora) which feeds upon the honeybee. See Robber fly. --
Bee louse (Zool.), a minute, wingless, dipterous insect (Braula cæca) parasitic on hive bees. --
Bee martin (Zool.), the kingbird (Tyrannus Carolinensis) which occasionally feeds on bees. --
Bee moth (Zool.), a moth (Galleria cereana) whose larvæ feed on honeycomb, occasioning great damage in beehives. --
Bee wolf (Zool.), the larva of the bee beetle. See Illust. of Bee beetle. --
To have a bee in the head or
To have a bee in the bonnet. (a) To be choleric. [ Obs. ] (b) To be restless or uneasy. B. Jonson. (c) To be full of fancies; to be a little crazy. “She's whiles crack-brained, and has a bee in her head.” Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. a perennial aromatic herb of eastern North America (Monarda didyma) having variously colored tubular flowers in dense showy heads.
Syn. -- bee balm, bergamot mint, oswego tea. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

3. a bushy perennial Old World mint, Melissa officinalis, having small white or yellowish flowers and fragrant lemon-flavored leaves; a garden escapee in northern Europe and North America.
Syn. -- lemon balm, garden balm, sweet balm, bee balm, Melissa officinalis. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

☞ It grows to a large size, having a smooth bark and thick foliage, and bears an edible triangular nut, of which swine are fond. The Fagus sylvatica is the European species, and the Fagus ferruginea that of America. [ 1913 Webster ]

Beech drops (Bot.), a parasitic plant which grows on the roots of beeches (Epiphegus Americana). --
Beech marten (Zool.), the stone marten of Europe (Mustela foina). --
Beech mast, the nuts of the beech, esp. as they lie under the trees, in autumn. --
Beech oil, oil expressed from the mast or nuts of the beech tree. --
Cooper beech, a variety of the European beech with copper-colored, shining leaves. [ 1913 Webster ]

A herd of beeves, fair oxen and fair kine. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The flesh of an ox, or cow, or of any adult bovine animal, when slaughtered for food. [ In this sense, the word has no plural. ] “Great meals of beef.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Applied colloquially to human flesh. [ 1913 Webster ]

Beef tea, essence of beef, or strong beef broth. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One of the yeomen of the guard, in England. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) An African bird of the genus Buphaga, which feeds on the larvæ of botflies hatched under the skin of oxen, antelopes, etc. Two species are known. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ A common and typical form of beehive was a domeshaped inverted basket, whence certain ancient Irish and Scotch architectural remains are called beehive houses. [ 1913 Webster ]

Assembled been a senate grave and stout. Fairfax. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Beer has different names, as small beer, ale, porter, brown stout, lager beer, according to its strength, or other qualities. See Ale. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A fermented extract of the roots and other parts of various plants, as spruce, ginger, sassafras, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Small beer, weak beer; (fig.) insignificant matters. “To suckle fools, and chronicle small beer.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

In one of the less surprising revelations of the year, researchers at the University of North Carolina (UNC) and colleagues have confirmed that excessive consumption of beer can lead to the condition commonly known as beer belly. At the same time, however, they discovered that, beyond aesthetic concerns, the condition may point to health hazards of a more serious nature. In a comparison of beer drinkers and wine drinkers, the scientists found that beer tends to build a central paunch, or “potbelly”, while wine drinkers tend to have narrower waists, even when the same amount of alcohol and calories is consumed by both. The Scientist -- December 11, 1995.

2. The root of plants of the genus Beta, different species and varieties of which are used for the table, for feeding stock, or in making sugar. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ There are many varieties of the common beet (Beta vulgaris). The Old “white beet”, cultivated for its edible leafstalks, is a distinct species (Beta Cicla). [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To renew or enkindle (a fire). [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. the music of Beethoven. He enjoyed Beethoven most of all. [ WordNet 1.5 ]