drone

drone · noun, verb

imported

Definitions

noun, verb

  1. 1.

    An unmanned aircraft or ship guided by remote control or onboard computers.

  2. 2.

    To make a continuous low humming sound.

  3. 3.

    A male bee that does not work but can fertilize a queen.

  4. 4.

    To speak in a monotonous tone.

  5. 5.

    A continuous low humming sound.

  6. 6.

    A person who does tedious work; a drudge.

Forms

plural: drones

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    drone on — to speak tediously at length
  • •
    drone strike — an attack using an unmanned aircraft

Related words

Antonyms: silence
See also: buzz, drones, hum
Synonyms: UAV, buzz, unmanned aircraft

Etymology

From Old English drān ("male bee"), from Proto-Germanic dranô. The verb sense of making a humming sound emerged in the 16th century. The technology meaning arose in the 20th century.