HORNET Definition & Meaning

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hornet

[ hawr-nit ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

any large, stinging paper wasp of the family Vespidae, as Vespa crabro giant hornet, introduced into the U.S. from Europe, or Vespula maculata bald-faced hornet, or white-faced hornet, of North America.

hornet

/ ˈ��ɔː��ɪ�� /

noun

any of various large social wasps of the family Vespidae, esp Vespa crabro of Europe, that can inflict a severe sting
hornet's nest
a strongly unfavourable reaction (often in the phrase stir up a hornet's nest )

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of hornet¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English harnete, Old English hyrnet(u); cognate with Old High German hornaz (becoming German Horniss ); akin to horn

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of hornet¹

Old English hyrnetu; related to Old Saxon hornut, Old High German hornuz

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Idioms and Phrases

see mad as a hornet ; stir up a hornet's nest .

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

This feeling of certainty and Scotland sit as well together as a hornets' nest and a big stick.

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“Political leaders are all afraid of poking the hornet’s nest and taking a stand.”

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"I very quickly realised that I had kicked a really nasty hornets' nest," Spinks told us.

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The exploration of power dynamics, sexual politics and academia is just the kind of provocative storytelling that Guadagnino excels at, unafraid of sticking his nose straight into any number of cultural hornet’s nests.

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During autumn, the hornets shift from foraging and nest expansion to reproduction.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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