noun
bee
An organized gathering centered on a shared task or skill.
The neighbors gather for a quilting bee in the community hall.
Etymology
Probably a figurative use of bee for communal work. Spelling contests developed from these cooperative gatherings; the naming explanation is not certain.
More examples
- She reaches the final round of the spelling bee.
- Several schools hold geography bees each spring.
- The old diary describes a husking bee on the farm.
Forms
bee · bees