A honeycomb is the amazing structure that honeybees build inside their hives, made up of thousands of six-sided cells fitted perfectly together. Each cell is a small hexagonal chamber where bees store honey and pollen, or where the queen lays eggs that grow into new bees. The cells share walls with their neighbors, which saves wax and makes the structure incredibly strong. If you've ever seen honey sold still in its comb, you're looking at this natural architecture.

The hexagonal pattern isn't random: it's actually the most efficient shape for covering a flat surface without gaps, using the least amount of material. Scientists and engineers study honeycombs because they're remarkably strong despite being lightweight. This has inspired designs for everything from airplane wings to packaging materials.

The word also describes anything with a similar pattern of connected holes or cells. A honeycombed cliff face has many small caves and openings, like Swiss cheese. Steel beams in buildings sometimes use a honeycomb structure inside to be strong without being too heavy.