ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun
: any of certain social honey-producing bees of Apis and related genera ; especially : a native European bee ( Apis mellifera ) that is kept for its honey and wax in most parts of the world, has developed into several races differing in size, color, disposition, and productivity, and has escaped to the wild wherever suitable conditions prevail — compare black bee , carniolan bee , drone , honeycomb , italian bee , queen bee , worker
[s]honeybee.jpg[/s] [
honeybees, left to right: worker, queen, drone
]