— hiveless , adj. — hivelike , adj. — hiver , n.
/huyv/ , n. , v. , hived, hiving .
n.
1. a shelter constructed for housing a colony of honeybees; beehive.
2. the colony of bees inhabiting a hive.
3. something resembling a beehive in structure or use.
4. a place swarming with busy occupants: a hive of industry.
5. a swarming or teeming multitude.
v.t.
6. to gather into or cause to enter a hive.
7. to shelter as in a hive.
8. to store up in a hive.
9. to store or lay away for future use or enjoyment.
v.i.
10. (of bees) to enter a hive.
11. to live together in or as in a hive.
12. hive off , Brit. to become transferred from the main body of a commercial or industrial enterprise through the agency of new ownership.
[ bef. 900; ME; OE hyf; akin to ON hufr ship's hull, L cupa vat ]
Syn. 4. hub, center.