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bourdon

bumblebee

noun boor-DOHN Rare
Animals & Nature Insects

Also means

bass drone (bell or organ)

Usage Note

Bourdon primarily names the large, fuzzy bumblebee, but in music it refers to the sustained bass note of a bagpipe or organ. Church bells also have a bourdon — the largest, deepest bell in a tower, like the famous one at Notre-Dame. The verb bourdonner means 'to buzz' or 'to hum'.

Examples

"Un bourdon bourdonnait près des fleurs."

Natural Translation

A bumblebee was buzzing near the flowers.

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