a sweet, viscid fluid produced by bees from the nectar collected from flowers, and stored in nests or hives as food.
2.
this substance as used in cooking or as a spread or sweetener.
3.
the nectar of flowers.
4.
any of various similarly sweet, viscid products produced by insects or in other ways.
5.
something sweet, delicious, or delightful: the honey of flattery.
6.
Informal. a person for whom one feels love or deep affection; sweetheart; darling.
7.
(sometimes initial capital letter) an affectionate or familiar term of address (sometimes offensive when used to strangers, casual acquaintances, subordinates, etc., esp. by a male to a female).
8.
Informal. something of esp. high quality, degree of excellence, etc.: That's a honey of a computer.
–adjective
9.
of, like, or pertaining to honey; sweet.
10.
containing honey or flavored or sweetened with honey.
–verb (used with object)
11.
Informal. to talk flatteringly or endearingly to (often fol. by up).
12.
to sweeten or flavor with or as if with honey.
–verb (used without object)
13.
Informal. to use flattery, endearing terms, etc., in an effort to obtain something (often fol. by up): They always got what they wanted by honeying up to their grandfather.
[Origin: bef. 900; ME hony, OE hunig; c. D, G honig, ON hunang; akin to Gk knékós pale yellow, tawny]
O.E. hunig, from W.Gmc. *khunaga- (cf. O.N. hunang, Swed. honung, Ger. Honig "honey"); perhaps cognate with Skt. kancanum, Welsh canecon "gold." The more common IE word is represented by Goth. miliþ (from PIE *melith "honey"). A term of endearment from at least 1350. Honeycomb is O.E. hunigcamb (see comb). Honey-bee is from c.1566.
Honey Brook, PA (borough, FIPS 35528) Location: 40.09338 N, 75.91098 W Population (1990): 1184 (486 housing units) Area: 1.3 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 19344
Honey Creek, IA Zip code(s): 51542
Honey Grove, PA Zip code(s): 17035
Honey Grove, TX (city, FIPS 34700) Location: 33.58342 N, 95.90992 W Population (1990): 1681 (844 housing units) Area: 5.9 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 75446
Hon"ey\, n. [OE. honi, huni, AS. hunig; akin to OS. honeg, D. & G. honig, OHG. honag, honang, Icel. hunang, Sw. h[*a]ning, Dan. honning, cf. Gr. ? dust, Skr. kaa grain.]1. A sweet viscid fluid, esp. that collected by bees from flowers of plants, and deposited in the cells of the honeycomb. 2. That which is sweet or pleasant, like honey. The honey of his language. --Shak. 3. Sweet one; -- a term of endearment. --Chaucer. Honey, you shall be well desired in Cyprus. --Shak. Note: Honey is often used adjectively or as the first part of compound; as, honeydew or honey dew; honey guide or honeyguide; honey locust or honey-locust. Honey ant (Zo["o]l.), a small ant (Myrmecocystus melliger), found in the Southwestern United States, and in Mexico, living in subterranean formicares. There are larger and smaller ordinary workers, and others, which serve as receptacles or cells for the storage of honey, their abdomens becoming distended to the size of a currant. These, in times of scarcity, regurgitate the honey and feed the rest. Honey badger (Zo["o]l.), the ratel. Honey bear. (Zo["o]l.) See Kinkajou. Honey buzzard (Zo["o]l.), a bird related to the kites, of the genus Pernis. The European species is P. apivorus; the Indian or crested honey buzzard is P. ptilorhyncha. They feed upon honey and the larv[ae] of bees. Called also bee hawk, bee kite. Honey creeper (Zo["o]l.), one of numerous species of small, bright, colored, passerine birds of the family C[oe]rebid[ae], abundant in Central and South America. Honey easter (Zo["o]l.), one of numerous species of small passerine birds of the family Meliphagid[ae], abundant in Australia and Oceania; -- called also honeysucker. Honey flower (Bot.), an evergreen shrub of the genus Melianthus, a native of the Cape of Good Hope. The flowers yield much honey. Honey guide (Zo["o]l.), one of several species of small birds of the family Indicatorid[ae], inhabiting Africa and the East Indies. They have the habit of leading persons to the nests to wild bees. Called also honeybird, and indicator. Honey harvest, the gathering of honey from hives, or the honey which is gathered. --Dryden. Honey kite. (Zo["o]l.) See Honey buzzard (above). Honey locust (Bot.), a North American tree (Gleditschia triacanthos), armed with thorns, and having long pods with a sweet pulp between the seeds. Honey month. Same as Honeymoon. Honey weasel (Zo["o]l.), the ratel.
Hon"ey\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Honeyed; p. pr. & vb. n. Honeying.] To be gentle, agreeable, or coaxing; to talk fondly; to use endearments; also, to be or become obsequiously courteous or complimentary; to fawn. "Honeying and making love." --Shak. Rough to common men, But honey at the whisper of a lord. --Tennyson.
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Audio Help [huhn-ee] Pronunciation Key noun, plural hon·eys, adjective, verb, hon·eyed or hon·ied, hon·ey·ing. 
