drone-n; 6 Senses

Sense Number 1: a male bee whose function is to fertilize the queen

Commentary: DRONE[+insect][+bee][+mating][+male]

Examples:
The drones in a hive do no work, but fertilize the queen's eggs.
A drone bee can make no honey.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1

Sense Number 2: a small pilotless flying aircraft

Commentary: DRONE[+machine][+autonomous][+flying]

Examples:
The army sent in some drones to do reconnaissance.
The insurgents claim to have downed two spy drones this week.
The soldiers surrendered themselves to a drone.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 4

Sense Number 3: a single monotone sound, usually low

Commentary: DRONE[+sound][+monotone]

Examples:
John heard the drone of the freeway traffic from the open window.
The drone of the engine lulled us to sleep.
Sally said the speech was an hour-long drone. (figurative)

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 2

Sense Number 4: a loafer, idler, lives off others

Commentary: DRONE[+quality][+personality][+loafer]
NOTE: a figurative extension of Sense 1

Examples:
The neighbors describe him as a drone still living off his parents.
The woman complained about what a drone her husband had become.

Mappings:
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: 2

Sense Number 5: a drudge, one who does boring menial work

Commentary: DRONE[+state][+existence][+drudge]

Examples:
They felt like drones laboring in obscurity.
These men are just drones for the Emperor.

Mappings:
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: 4

Sense Number 6: a pipe on a bagpipe that produces a continuous tone

Commentary: DRONE[+instrument][+musical][+bagpipe][+pipe]

Examples:
The Scotsman pointed out the drone pipe to us on his bagpipe.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 5