honeycomb

Noun

a structure of small hexagonal cells constructed from beeswax by bees and used to store honey and larvae
a framework of hexagonal cells resembling the honeycomb built by bees
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.
Something resembling honeycomb in having numerous cells or small holes.
Something resembling honeycomb in having numerous cells or small holes.
A space-filling packing of polytopes in three- or higher-dimensional space.
Something resembling honeycomb in having numerous cells or small holes.
The texture of the surface of a solar cell, intended to increase its surface area and capture more sunlight.
Something resembling honeycomb in having numerous cells or small holes.
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.
Something resembling honeycomb in having numerous cells or small holes.
Material manufactured with small hollow cells, sometimes sandwiched between two flat sheets, which is used to make light, stiff structural components.
Something resembling honeycomb in having numerous cells or small holes.
Ellipsis of honeycomb stomach (“the reticulum or second compartment of the stomach of a cow or other ruminant”).
Something resembling honeycomb in having numerous cells or small holes.
Ellipsis of honeycomb work (“especially in Moorish architecture: a form of ceiling ornamentation (especially of an arch or dome) made up of small vaulted arches”).
Something resembling honeycomb in sweetness; hence, something desirable or pleasant.
Something resembling honeycomb in sweetness; hence, something desirable or pleasant.
Used as a term of endearment: honey, sweetheart.
Something resembling honeycomb in sweetness; hence, something desirable or pleasant.
A crumbly confection usually made by boiling together golden syrup, sugar, bicarbonate of soda, and water.

Verb

carve a honeycomb pattern into
- "The cliffs were honeycombed"
penetrate thoroughly and into every part
- "the revolutionaries honeycombed the organization"
make full of cavities, like a honeycomb
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.
To bore cavities or tunnels inside (something).
To decorate (something) with a honeycomb pattern.
To make way deeply into (something) so as to weaken it; to undermine.
To ornament (a ceiling) with honeycomb work (see noun sense 2.4).
To become riddled with small holes, especially in a pattern resembling a honeycomb; also, to become hollow or weakened in this way.

Examples

honeycomb toffee
Termites will honeycomb a porch made of untreated pine.
The wood porch was a honeycomb of termite tunnels before we replaced it.

Origin / Etymology

The noun is derived from Middle English hony comb, 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.

Synonyms

muqarnas

Scrabble Score: 21

honeycomb: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
honeycomb: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
honeycomb: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 23

honeycomb: valid Words With Friends Word