Humblebee - Definition, Meaning, and Examples in English

Definition

^{Context #1 | Noun}

insect

A humblebee is a large, hairy bee, often seen collecting nectar from flowers. They are important pollinators and play a crucial role in the ecosystem.

Synonyms

bee, bumblebee.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
humblebee	Used in literature or poetry to refer to bumblebee, often having an old-fashioned or whimsical tone. In the garden, a humblebee buzzed around the blooming flowers. The child watched the humblebee with fascination as it gathered nectar.
bumblebee	Specifically refers to large, fuzzy bees, usually used in everyday conversation or when identifying this type of bee. A bumblebee landed on the sunflower, its wings glinting in the sunlight. Bumblebees are known for their distinct buzzing sound.
bee	General term for any insect of the family Apidae, used in everyday conversation or scientific contexts to refer to bees in general. Bees are essential for the pollination of many crops. She ran away from the bee that was buzzing too close.

Word

Description / Examples

humblebee

Used in literature or poetry to refer to bumblebee, often having an old-fashioned or whimsical tone.

In the garden, a humblebee buzzed around the blooming flowers.
The child watched the humblebee with fascination as it gathered nectar.

bumblebee

Specifically refers to large, fuzzy bees, usually used in everyday conversation or when identifying this type of bee.

A bumblebee landed on the sunflower, its wings glinting in the sunlight.
Bumblebees are known for their distinct buzzing sound.

bee

General term for any insect of the family Apidae, used in everyday conversation or scientific contexts to refer to bees in general.

Bees are essential for the pollination of many crops.
She ran away from the bee that was buzzing too close.

Examples of usage

The humblebee was busy buzzing around the garden.
The humblebee landed on the flower to collect nectar.

Interesting Facts

Ecology

These creatures play a crucial role in pollination, helping more than 70 crops like fruits and vegetables grow.
They contribute to biodiversity by enabling flowering plants to reproduce, which supports entire ecosystems.

Cultural Significance

In many cultures, bees symbolize hard work and cooperation, often used in literature and art to represent community and diligence.
The phrase 'busy as a bee' originates from observations of how industrious these tiny insects are in gathering food.

Behavior

Humblebees are social insects that live in colonies, working together for the survival of their hive, showing teamwork.
They communicate with each other through a dance called the waggle dance, which tells others about the location of food.

Conservation

Many species of humblebees are endangered due to habitat loss and pesticides, making their preservation important for ecological health.
Community gardens and planting wildflowers can help support these important pollinators, encouraging biodiversity in urban areas.

Origin of 'humblebee'

Main points about word origin

The word 'humble' comes from the Latin 'humilis,' meaning lowly or modest, reflecting the bee's role in nature.
The term 'bee' has roots in Old English 'beo,' which shows how long humans have recognized and valued these insects.

The term 'humblebee' originated from the Old English word 'humblebion', which was a combination of 'humble' and 'bee'. It has been used for centuries to refer to these large, hairy bees that are known for their important role in pollination.

Humblebee Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations