HONEYCOMB

honeycomb

(noun) a framework of hexagonal cells resembling the honeycomb built by bees

honeycomb

(noun) a structure of small hexagonal cells constructed from beeswax by bees and used to store honey and larvae

honeycomb

(verb) make full of cavities, like a honeycomb

honeycomb

(verb) penetrate thoroughly and into every part; “the revolutionaries honeycombed the organization”

honeycomb

(verb) carve a honeycomb pattern into; “The cliffs were honeycombed”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

honeycomb (plural honeycombs)

A structure of hexagonal cells made by bees primarily of wax, to hold their larvae and for storing the honey to feed the larvae and to feed themselves during winter.

(by extension) Any structure resembling a honeycomb.

(construction) Voids left in concrete resulting from failure of the mortar to effectively fill the spaces among coarse aggregate particles.

(aviation) Manufactured material used manufacture light, stiff structural components using a sandwich design.

(solar cell) The texture of the surface of a solar cell, intended to increase its surface area and capture more sunlight.

(geometry) A space-filling packing of polytopes in 3- or higher-dimensional space.

Verb

honeycomb (third-person singular simple present honeycombs, present participle honeycombing, simple past and past participle honeycombed)

To riddle something with holes, especially in such a pattern.

Source: Wiktionary

Hon"ey*comb`, n. Etym: [AS. hunigcamb. See Honey, and 1st Comb.]

1. A mass of hexagonal waxen cells, formed by bees, and used by them to hold their honey and their eggs.

2. Any substance, as a easting of iron, a piece of worm-eaten wood, or of triple, etc., perforated with cells like a honeycomb. Honeycomb moth (Zoöl.), the wax moth.

– Honeycomb stomach. (Anat.) See Reticulum.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition