drone

A vehicle controlled from a distance or by a computer, with no person inside operating it.

• He flew a drone over the park.
• The underwater drone recorded life on the seabed.
• Drones can deliver supplies to places that are difficult to reach.

Similar words: uncrewed vehicle, unmanned vehicle

Common phrases: fly a drone, camera drone, underwater drone, military drone

A small aircraft controlled from the ground, with no pilot inside.

• We used a drone to film the beach.
• Several drones flew above the stadium.
• Can you control the drone from here?

Similar words: unmanned aircraft

Common phrases: fly a drone, drone footage, drone pilot

A low, steady sound that continues for some time.

• I heard the drone of an engine.
• The steady drone made her sleepy.
• A distant drone came from the factory.

How to use it: the drone of something (The drone of the engine kept me awake.)

Similar words: hum, buzz

Common phrases: drone of machinery, steady drone, low drone

A male bee or similar insect whose main role is to mate with a queen.

• A drone is a male bee.
• The drones leave the hive to find queens.
• Unlike worker bees, drones do not gather nectar.

Similar words: male bee

Common phrases: drone bee, male drone, hive drone

To speak in a boring voice that stays at the same pitch.

• The speaker droned for an hour.
• She droned on about office rules.
• His flat voice was droning through the loudspeaker.

How to use it: drone on about something (He droned on about his tax problems.)

Common phrases: drone on, drone about something

To make a low, steady sound that continues for some time.

• The engine droned all night.
• A plane was droning overhead.
• The fan drones while I work.

Similar words: hum, buzz

Common phrases: drone overhead, drone steadily, drone in background

To kill someone or destroy something using an aircraft controlled from the ground.

• The unit planned to drone the target.
• The report claimed the army had droned the village.
• Critics accused the government of droning suspected fighters.

Common phrases: drone a target, drone a village