honey guide

Thân thiện

A honey guide leads a honey badger to a beehive in a dry savanna.

Definition

Noun: 1. A small bird of the family Indicatoridae, native to tropical Africa and Asia, known for leading humans and other animals to beehives: The name "honey guide" refers to a bird whose unique behavior involves guiding or leading other creatures to bees' nests. After the hive is opened by the larger animal (like a honey badger or a human) to get the honey, the bird feeds on the exposed beeswax, honey, and larvae.

Usage

• The term "honey guide" is used specifically to name this type of bird and to describe its characteristic guiding behavior.
• It is a countable noun (e.g., , ).

Examples

• Noun:
  • The greater honey guide is famous for its mutualistic relationship with humans.
  • We followed the honey guide to a wild beehive in the tree.
  • The diet of the honey guide consists mainly of beeswax and insect larvae.

Advanced Usage

• "To play/act as a honey guide": Used metaphorically to describe a person or thing that leads others to a desired discovery or resource.
  • Her detailed notes acted as a honey guide, leading the researchers directly to the key documents.

Variants and Related Words

• Honeyguide (noun): An alternative, often single-word, spelling for "honey guide".
• Indicator (noun): The scientific genus name for some honey guides ( spp.).
• Greater honey guide (noun phrase): A specific, well-known species ().

Synonyms

• Guide bird (noun): A less common descriptive synonym.
• Indicator bird (noun): A name derived from its scientific classification.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• None directly associated: There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs specifically using "honey guide." Its metaphorical use, as shown in "Advanced Usage," is an extension of its literal meaning.

Học thuật

Noun

1. small bird of tropical Africa and Asia; feeds on beeswax and honey and larvae