honeycomb

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honeycomb^¹

/ˈhʌnikəʊm/ UK
/ˈhʌniˌkoʊm/ US

Where it comes from

The noun is derived from Middle English honycomb, from Old English huniġcamb, from huniġ (“honey”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kn̥h₂ónks (“honey”)) + camb (“comb”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ǵómbʰos (“peg; tooth; row of teeth”)). The English word is analysable as honey + comb. The Oxford English Dictionary posits that the arrangement of several plates of wax “hanging parallel to each other from the roof of the hive suggests a comb with its teeth”. The verb is derived from the noun. Compare Saterland Frisian Hunichmoarte (“honeycomb”), West Frisian huningskiif (“honeycomb”), Dutch honingraat (“honeycomb”), German Honigwabe (“honeycomb”).

noun honeycombs · honey-comb

uncountable A substance made by bees (clade Anthophila) primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells to hold their larvae, and for storing pollen and honey to feed the larvae and themselves when other food is scarce; it is also eaten by humans as part of comb-honey; (countable) a single sheet made up of two layers of this substance. Pleaſant words are [as] an honycombe, ſweete to the ſoule, and health to the bones.
broadly, countable Something resembling honeycomb (noun sense 1) in having numerous cells or small holes. The wood porch was a honeycomb of termite tunnels before we replaced it.
broadly, countable A space-filling packing of polytopes in three- or higher-dimensional space.
broadly, countable, uncountable The texture of the surface of a solar cell, intended to increase its surface area and capture more sunlight.
archaic, broadly, countable, uncountable A defect in a material (especially metal) where small holes are present; specifically (construction), a defect in concrete consisting of numerous voids resulting from the failure of mortar to effectively fill the spaces among coarse aggregate particles.
broadly, countable, uncountable Material manufactured with small hollow cells, sometimes sandwiched between two flat sheets, which is used to make light, stiff structural components.
abbreviation, broadly, countable, ellipsis Ellipsis of honeycomb stomach (“the reticulum or second compartment of the stomach of a cow or other ruminant”). A rudimentall reſemblance hereof there is in the cruciated and rugged folds of the Reticulum, or Net-like Ventricle of ruminating horned animals, vvhich is the ſecond in order, and culinarily called the Honey-comb.
abbreviation, broadly, ellipsis, uncountable Ellipsis of honeycomb work (“especially in Moorish architecture: a form of ceiling ornamentation (especially of an arch or dome) made up of small vaulted arches”).
Similar: muqarnas
countable, figuratively Something resembling honeycomb in sweetness; hence, something desirable or pleasant. [F]or he [Jesus Christ] vvas the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and from him being crucified for our ſinnes, and ſlaine for our redemption, vve receive our honey and our honey-combe, that is to ſay, peace vvith God the Father.
archaic, countable, figuratively Used as a term of endearment: honey, sweetheart. Adievv; / My honey-combe hovv ſvveet thou art, […]
Australia, Hong Kong, UK, attributive, figuratively, often A crumbly confection usually made by boiling together golden syrup, sugar, bicarbonate of soda, and water. honeycomb toffee

verb honeycombs · honeycombing · honeycombed · honey-comb

transitive To riddle (something) with small holes, especially in a pattern resembling a honeycomb (noun sense 1); also, to cause (something) to become hollow or weakened in this way. The ordinary tourist who visits the Boulak museum and the Necropolis of Sakkara, and then runs up to the First or the Second Cataract, is apt to think that the subject must be wellnigh exhausted; and is scarcely conscious of the fact that the banks of the Nile from Cairo to Thebes, between which he
transitive To bore cavities or tunnels inside (something). Termites will honeycomb a porch made of untreated pine.
transitive To decorate (something) with a honeycomb pattern.
figuratively, transitive To make way deeply into (something) so as to weaken it; to undermine.
transitive To ornament (a ceiling) with honeycomb work (see noun sense 2.4).
also, archaic, figuratively, intransitive To become riddled with small holes, especially in a pattern resembling a honeycomb; also, to become hollow or weakened in this way.

Honeycomb^²

proper noun

A surname.

Translations

Every language

noun something resembling honeycomb in having numerous cells or small holes

日本語	ハニカム hanikamu
Русский	со́ты sóty

noun substance made by bees primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells; single sheet made up of two layers of this substance

Español	panal
한국어	벌집 beoljip, 벌방 beolbang
日本語	蜂の巣 hachi no su, 蜂巣 hōsō, ハニカム hanikamu
中文	蜂窩 /蜂窝 fēngwō, 蜂巢 fēngcháo
हिन्दी	छत्ता chattā, मधु कोष madhu koṣ
Português	favo
Français	rayon de miel, rayon de ruche, alvéole d’abeille, alvéole
Deutsch	Wabe, Bienenwabe, Honigwabe
Italiano	favo, cella, nido d'api, nido
Ελληνικά	κηρήθρα kiríthra
Română	fagure
Русский	со́ты sóty
Tiếng Việt	tảng ong
العربية	قَرْص اَلْعَسَل qarṣ al-ʕasal
עברית	חלת דבש khalat dvásh

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MLA

"honeycomb." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/honeycomb. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

honeycomb. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/honeycomb

Chicago

"honeycomb." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/honeycomb.

BibTeX

@misc{honeycomb_2026,
  title = {honeycomb},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/honeycomb},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}