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Wiktionary:Word of the day/2023/October 19

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Word of the day
for October 19
honeycomb n
  1. (uncountable) A substance made by bees (clade Anthophila) primarily from beeswax which has hexagonal cells to hold their larvae, and for storing pollen and honey to feed the larvae and themselves when other food is scarce; it is also eaten by humans as part of comb-honey; (countable) a single sheet made up of two layers of this substance.
  2. (countable, by extension) Something resembling honeycomb (sense 1) in having numerous cells or small holes.
    1. (countable, geometry) A space-filling packing of polytopes in three- or higher-dimensional space.
    2. (countable, technology)
      1. The texture of the surface of a solar cell, intended to increase its surface area and capture more sunlight.
      2. (archaic) A defect in a material (especially metal) where small holes are present; specifically (construction), a defect in concrete consisting of numerous voids resulting from the failure of mortar to effectively fill the spaces among coarse aggregate particles.
      3. (chiefly aviation) Material manufactured with small hollow cells, sometimes sandwiched between two flat sheets, which is used to make light, stiff structural components.
    3. (countable, zoology) Short for honeycomb stomach (“the reticulum or second compartment of the stomach of a cow or other ruminant”).
    4. (uncountable, architecture) Short for honeycomb work (“especially in Moorish architecture: a form of ceiling ornamentation (especially of an arch or dome) made up of small vaulted arches”).
  3. (countable, figurative) Something resembling honeycomb in sweetness; hence, something desirable or pleasant.
    1. (countable, archaic) Used as a term of endearment: honey, sweetheart.
    2. (uncountable, chiefly Australia, British, often attributive) A crumbly confection usually made by boiling together golden syrup, sugar, bicarbonate of soda, and water.

honeycomb v

  1. (transitive, often passive voice)
    1. To riddle (something) with small holes, especially in a pattern resembling a honeycomb (noun sense 1); also, to cause (something) to become hollow or weakened in this way.
    2. To bore cavities or tunnels inside (something).
    3. To decorate (something) with a honeycomb pattern.
    4. (figurative, chiefly passive voice) To make way deeply into (something) so as to weaken it; to undermine.
    5. (architecture) To ornament (a ceiling) with honeycomb work (see noun sense 2.4).
  2. (intransitive, also figurative, archaic) To become riddled with small holes, especially in a pattern resembling a honeycomb; also, to become hollow or weakened in this way.

Sweetest Day, which is celebrated in parts of the United States as a day to share romantic expressions and acts of charity and kindness, falls on 21 October, the third Saturday of the month, this year.

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