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drone

drone

2 definitions found

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
  Drone \Drone\ (dr[=o]n), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Droned; p. pr. &
     vb. n. Droning.] [Cf. (for sense 1) D. dreunen, G.
     dr["o]hnen, Icel. drynja to roar, drynr a roaring, Sw.
     dr["o]na to bellow, drone, Dan. dr["o]ne, Goth. drunjus
     sound, Gr. ? dirge, ? to cry aloud, Skr. dhran to sound. Cf.
     Drone, n.]
     1. To utter or make a low, dull, monotonous, humming or
        murmuring sound.
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              Where the beetle wheels his droning flight. --T.
                                                    Gray.
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     2. To love in idleness; to do nothing. "Race of droning
        kings." --Dryden.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
  Drone \Drone\, n. [OE. drane a dronebee, AS. dr[=a]n; akin to
     OS. dr[=a]n, OHG. treno, G. drohne, Dan. drone, cf. Gr. ? a
     kind of wasp, dial. Gr. ? drone. Prob. named fr. the droning
     sound. See Drone, v. i.]
     1. (Zool.) The male of bees, esp. of the honeybee. It gathers
        no honey. See Honeybee.
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              All with united force combine to drive
              The lazy drones from the laborious hive. --Dryden.
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     2. One who lives on the labors of others; a lazy, idle
        fellow; a sluggard.
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              By living as a drone,to be an unprofitable and
              unworthy member of so noble and learned a society.
                                                    -- Burton.
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     3. That which gives out a grave or monotonous tone or dull
        sound; as:
        (a) A drum. [Obs.] Halliwell.
        (b) The part of the bagpipe containing the two lowest
            tubes, which always sound the key note and the fifth.
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     4. A humming or deep murmuring sound.
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              The monotonous drone of the wheel.    --Longfellow.
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     5. (Mus.) A monotonous bass, as in a pastoral composition.
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