ignifies a bee-hive. The word is formed of alveus, a "channel or cavity;" in allusion to the alveoli, or cells in bee-hives.

Some of the ancients use also the word alvearium for a bee-house, more usually called among us apiary.

ALVEARIUM is sometimes also used figuratively, to denote a collection. In which sense, alvearium amounts to much the same with what we otherwise call theca, cornucopia, or the like. Vinc. Boreus has published an alvearium of law.