honeycomb

[ˈhʌniːkəʊm]

Language▾

German

Persian

Russian

Spanish

A honeycomb is a pattern made from hexagonal cells, often found in nature. These cells can also be man-made.

You probably know that bees create honeycombs to store their precious honey and pollen. But people use the term "honeycomb" in other contexts too. For example, you might see it on a piece of furniture like a sofa or an armchair - these are sometimes called honeycomb seats because they're made up of lots of small hexagonal parts that fit together. You can also find honeycomb patterns on wallpaper or fabric designs. Even some types of metal screens have a honeycomb shape to allow for airflow and keep bugs out.

How common is "honeycomb"?

Word honeycomb is considered rare in modern English.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.

Definitions

noun

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.
Example: The wood porch was a honeycomb of termite tunnels before we replaced it.
Voids left in concrete resulting from failure of the mortar to effectively fill the spaces among coarse aggregate particles.
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.
A space-filling packing of polytopes in 3- or higher-dimensional space.

1 / 6

verb

To riddle something with holes, especially in such a pattern.
Example: Termites will honeycomb a porch made of untreated pine.

Real examples of "honeycomb" in context

Can a Ping-Pong Ball Really Be Deadly? | MythBusters | Discovery

Entertainment

Well, our 80 foot long barrel sent this ping pong ball through an inch thick piece of honeycomb cardboard,

3:20