hon|ey

hon|ey «HUHN ee», noun, plural hon|eys, adjective, verb, hon|eyed or hon|ied, hon|ey|ing.

–n.

1. a thick, sweet, yellow or golden liquid, good to eat, that bees make out of the nectar they collect from flowers.

2. any one of various similar substances produced by insects or in other ways.

3. the drop of liquid found in many flowers that draws bees to them.

4. Figurative. something sweet like honey; sweetness: »

the honey of flattery. Death hath sucked the honey of thy breath (Shakespeare).

5. darling; dear.

6. a color like that of honey.

–adj.

1. of or like honey; sweet; honeyed.

2. lovable; dear.

–v.t.

1. to sweeten with or as if with honey.

2. to talk sweetly to; flatter.

–v.i.

1. to talk sweetly; use endearments.

2. Figurative. to become sweet or agreeable: »

his tutor, rough to common men, But honeying at the whisper of a lord (Tennyson).

╂[Old English hunig]

–hon´ey|less, adjective.

–hon´ey|like´, adjective.