First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1drone
noun \ˈdrōn\
Definition of DRONE
1
: a stingless male bee (as of the honeybee) that has the role of mating with the queen and does not gather nectar or pollen
2
: one that lives on the labors of others : parasite
3
: an unmanned aircraft or ship guided by remote control or onboard computers
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Origin of DRONE
Middle English, from Old English drān; akin to Old High German treno drone, Greek thrēnos dirge
Other Insect Terms
2drone
verb
: to make a continuous low humming sound
droneddron·ing
Full Definition of DRONE
intransitive verb
1
a : to make a sustained deep murmuring, humming, or buzzing sound <droning bees> b : to talk in a persistently dull or monotonous tone <droning on and on about his health>
2
: to pass, proceed, or act in a dull, drowsy, or indifferent manner <the afternoon droned on>
transitive verb
1
: to utter or pronounce with a drone
2
: to pass or spend in dull or monotonous activity or in idleness
— dron·er noun
— dron·ing·ly \ˈdrō-niŋ-lē\ adverb
See drone defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of DRONE
circa 1520
3drone
noun
Definition of DRONE
1
: a deep sustained or monotonous sound : hum
2
: an instrument or part of an instrument (as one of the fixed-pitch pipes of a bagpipe) that sounds a continuous unvarying tone
3
First Known Use of DRONE
circa 1520
DRONE Defined for Kids
1drone
noun \ˈdrōn\
Definition of DRONE for Kids
: a male bee
2drone
verb
droneddron·ing
Definition of DRONE for Kids
: to make or to speak with a low dull tone or hum <The speaker droned on and on.>
3drone
noun
Definition of DRONE for Kids
: a low dull tone or hum
Learn More About DRONE
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