Drone

/droʊn/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A male bee, especially one that is not a worker and is capable of mating with a queen bee.

During the summer, the hive is filled with drones waiting to mate with the queen.

A remote-controlled pilotless aircraft or vehicle that can fly autonomously or be piloted remotely.

The photographer used a drone to capture aerial footage of the landscape.

A continuous low humming sound.

The drone of the machinery in the factory was deafening.

verb

To talk in a monotonous tone.

He droned on about his weekend plans, hardly making it interesting.

To make a continuous low humming sound.

The engine droned on as we drove down the highway.

Middle English dron(e), from Old English drān (male bee), of uncertain origin.

drone on

To talk continuously in a dull or boring way.

drone of the engine

The continuous, low sound made by an engine.

drone bee

A male bee in a colony.

UAV

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, a synonym for drone used mainly in military contexts.

buzz

A continuous low humming sound, often associated with bees or electronic devices.

droning

The act of making a continuous, monotonous sound.

Someone who is considered lazy or dull.

Stop being such a drone and get involved!

A person who follows others without independent thought.

He's such a drone, just doing what everyone else is doing.