worker bee—
1. sterile bee specialized to collect food and maintain the hive:
- Only one queen bee is the mother of all worker bees and drones in a beehive.
2. said of a hard working person:
- All those handmade items make it so cozy and inviting. You are a real worker bee.
working bee—
1. = worker bee 1:
- By this time the number of working bees in the hive is becoming very great, and the storing of honey goes on very quickly.
2. = worker bee 2:
- The members were “working bees” in the best sense, and were capable of success anywhere.
3. an event at which people work towards a common cause:
- Are you able to assist at our working bee on Sunday? The purpose of this working bee is to beautify the area.