Entry 1 sense Webster, 1913 Bumblebee /bŭm'-bəl-bēˌ/ · Bum·ble·bee · IPA /ˈbʌmbəlˌbiː/ 01 n. A large bee of the genus Bombus, sometimes called humblebee; -- so named from its sound. 1. A large bee of the genus Bombus, sometimes called humblebee; -- so named from its sound.(Zool.) Also: humblebee