Webster's English Dictionary

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bee

1. bee \'be-\ n [ME, fr. OE be-o; akin to OHG bi-a bee, Lith bitis] [perh. 
   fr. E dial. been help given by neighbors, fr. ME bene prayer] 1: a social 
   colonial hymenopterous insect (Apis mellifera) often kept  in a state of 
   domestication for the honey that is produces; broadly : any of numerous 
   insects (superfamily Apoidea) that differ from the related wasps esp. in 
   the heavier hairier body and in having sucking as well as chewing 
   mouthparts, that feed on pollen and nectar, and that store both and often 
   also honey 2: an eccentric notion : FANCY , boon, fr. OE be-n prayer - more 
   at BOON 3: a gathering of people for a specific purpose {spelling ~} 
2. bee n [ME beghe metal ring, fr. OE be-ag; akin to OE bu-gan t]o bend - 
   more at BOW : a piece of hard wood at the side of a bowsprit to reeve 
   fore-topmast sta ys through
3. bee n : the letter b