1 propolis | Definition of propolis

propolis

noun
prop·​o·​lis | \ ˈprä-pÉ™-lÉ™s How to pronounce propolis (audio) \

Definition of propolis

: a brownish resinous material of waxy consistency collected by bees from the buds of trees and used as a cement in repairing and maintaining the hive

Examples of propolis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Haven’t done a THING except drink tea and take propolis. Christina Butan, PEOPLE.com, "Kylie Jenner Uses This $14 Throat Spray To Fight Off Colds — and It’s on Amazon," 3 Sep. 2019 The mixture, now available for the first time ever in the U.S., includes rose oil, calcium carbonate, male pine flower pollen, propolis, beeswax, and olive oil. Samantha Leal, Marie Claire, "This New Moisturizer Actually Heals Your Sunburn," 5 Aug. 2016 Apitherapy involves the use of bee products in health care applications, like taking a propolis tincture to stave off a cold. Cristina Mueller, Town & Country, "Beauty and the Bees," 6 Dec. 2012 Adopting that lifestyle in Berkeley, their grassy yard is home to chickens, raised for their eggs and pest-control savvy, and bees, whose honey, wax and propolis are used for cooking and Tackbary’s homemade beauty products. Leilani Marie Labong, San Francisco Chronicle, "Peace, love and a ’70s vibe rock a Berkeley home," 1 June 2018 In essence, guests become immersed in bees and beekeeping, such as learning how to distinguish honey from propolis (a waxy bee glue used to seal up hives), and how to extract honey from the hive’s cells. Jeanine Barone, New York Times, "Fall in Love With Bees on an ‘Apitourism’ Trip to Slovenia," 9 May 2018 It's also made with honey and propolis, which are anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and antiseptic. Kaleigh Fasanella, Allure, "What to Know About Microblading If You Have Sensitive Skin," 12 Feb. 2018 Ugandans prize the insects for their honey, their wax (used in soap and cosmetics), their propolis, and even their venom, which can be used to boost immunity. Atlanta Life, ajc, "Beekeeper, baker, kayaker don’t let blindness stop the vision," 9 July 2017 This body treatment offers bee propolis to support healthy immune response and myofascial massage to releases tight muscle and connective tissues. Meirav Devash, CNN, "How to beat jet lag with hotel spa treatments," 15 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'propolis.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of propolis

15th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for propolis

Middle English propoleos, from Medieval Latin, alteration of Latin propolis, from Greek, from pro- for + polis city — more at pro-, police

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More from Merriam-Webster on propolis

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about propolis