noun
drone
drohn
noun
1
An unmanned aircraft or vehicle controlled remotely or by autopilot.
"The company used a drone to film the wedding from above."
"Drones are increasingly used for crop monitoring on farms."
2
A male bee that does no work in the hive; by extension, a person who does menial or unthinking work.
"Worker bees outnumber the drones in a hive."
"He felt like just another drone in the corporate machine."
verb
1
To make a continuous low humming sound, or to speak in a flat, monotonous voice.
"The air conditioner droned in the background all night."
"The lecturer droned on for an hour without pausing."
How to Use Drone
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost often used today for a remote-controlled flying vehicle, but also a lazy worker, a male bee, or a dull continuous sound.
Common pairings
fly a drone
drone strike
drone on
a low drone
Word Forms
droned past tense, droned past tense, drones plural, drones plural, Drones plural, drones singular, drones singular
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Etymology
From Old English drān, an old Germanic word for the male bee — the "buzzing" and "aircraft" senses both grew from this root over time.