Bourdon (en. Bumblebee)

/buʁdɔ̃/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

noun

Pollinator insect often confused with a large bee.

The bumblebee collects nectar from flowers in the spring.

Le bourdon butine les fleurs au printemps.

Wind instrument, similar to a horn.

The sound of the bumblebee resonates in the church.

Le son du bourdon résonne dans l'église.

Term used in aviation to refer to an aircraft flying at low altitude.

The bumblebee flies over the fields during the harvest.

Le bourdon survole les champs pendant la moisson.

From Old French 'burdon', derived from Latin 'bombus', meaning noise or humming.

to drone

To be annoying or tiring for someone.

faire un bourdon

to buzz like a bumblebee

To produce a continuous and monotonous sound.

bourdonner comme un bourdon

to have a bumblebee in one's head

To be preoccupied or distracted by persistent thoughts.

avoir un bourdon dans la tête

bee

Insect that produces honey and pollinates flowers.

abeille

pollination

Process of transferring pollen from one flower to another.

pollinisation

hive

Habitat built for bees.

ruche

To feel desperate or downcast.

After that bad news, I really felt down.

Après cette mauvaise nouvelle, j'avais un vrai bourdon.

To be in a state of extreme fatigue.

After the party, I was completely exhausted.

Après la fête, j'étais complètement bourdon.