honeycomb
UK[ˈhʌn.i.kəʊm]US[ˈhʌn.i.koʊm]
n
a structure of hexagonal wax cells made by honey bees to store honey and eggs.
n
something that resembles this structure in appearance or pattern.
v
to fill with holes, tunnels, or cavities; to permeate.
Morpheme Breakdown
honey
comb
honey
comb
Etymology
the word 'honeycomb' is a transparent compound from old english, directly combining 'hunig' (honey) and 'camb' (comb). the 'comb' element does not refer to a hair comb but to the old english sense of a honeycomb or crest, likely derived from the proto-germanic 'kambaz', denoting something toothed or ridged. this aptly describes the geometric, cell-like structure built by bees. over time, the compound solidified to name the beeswax structure itself, and later, by metaphorical extension, any similar repeating hexagonal or porous pattern.
Analysis
Structure: honey + comb
honey (old english 'hunig', meaning the sweet substance) + comb (old english 'camb', meaning a thin strip of material with teeth, here referring to the structure's resemblance to a comb's teeth).
Examples
the beekeeper carefully inspected the honeycomb for signs of new brood.
the sandstone was honeycombed with ancient caves and passages.
the architect used a honeycomb design to make the panel both light and strong.