I. hive 1 /haɪv/ BrE AmE noun
[ Sense 1-2: Language: Old English ; Origin: hyf ]
[ Sense 3: Origin: Origin unknown ]
1 . [countable] ( also beehive ) a small box where ↑ bee s are kept, or the bees that live in this box
2 . a hive of industry/activity etc British English a place that is full of people who are very busy:
This marketplace was once a hive of activity.
3 . hives [uncountable] a skin disease in which a person’s skin becomes red and sore
II. hive 2 BrE AmE verb
hive something ↔ off phrasal verb British English
to sell one part of a business:
the trend for television companies to hive off their advertising departments