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honey definition

honey (hunē)

noun pl. honeys -·eys

  1. a thick, sweet, syrupy substance that bees make as food from the nectar of flowers and store in honeycombs
    1. anything like honey in texture, color, etc.
    2. sweet quality; sweetness
  2. sweet one; darling; dear: often a term of affectionate address
  3. Informal something pleasing or excellent of its kind a honey of an idea

Etymology: ME honi, hunig < OE hunig, akin to Ger honig (OHG honang) < IE base *kenekó-, honey-yellow > Sans kāñcana-, golden

adjective

  1. of or like honey
  2. sweet; dear

transitive verb honeyed -·eyed or honied -·ied, honeying -·ey·ing

  1. to make sweet or pleasant as with honey
  2. to speak sweetly or lovingly to
  3. to flatter

intransitive verb

to speak sweetly or lovingly; be very affectionate, attentive, or coaxing

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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