needle

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

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Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Etymology 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Derived terms 1.3.2 Translations 1.3.3 See also 1.4 Verb 1.4.1 Translations

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /'niː.dl//
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

  Rhymes: -iːdəl

[edit] Etymology

Old English nædl

[edit] Noun

needle (plural needles)

1. A long, thin, sharp implement usually for piercing such as sewing, or knitting, acupuncture, tattooing, body piercing, medical injections etc.

   The seamstress threaded the needle to sew on a button.

2. A long, thin device for indicating measurements on a dial or graph, e.g. a compass needle.

   The needle on the fuel gauge pointed to empty.

3. A sensor for playing phonograph records, a phonograph stylus.

   Ziggy bought some diamond needles for his hi-fi phonograph.

4. A long, pointed leaf found on some conifers.

   I boiled some of the needles from the Christmas tree to add a pleasing scent to the air.

5. A weapon used in ancient China, and today by Shaolin monks.

[edit] Derived terms

compass needle knitting needle needlenose needlenose pliers on pins and needles

pine needle pins and needles needle in a haystack needle-sharp

[edit] Translations

[edit] See also

• acerate
• eye
• pin

[edit] Verb

to needle (third-person singular simple present needles, present participle needling, simple past and past participle needled)

1. (transitive) To tease; to poke fun at.

   Billy needled his sister incessantly about her pimples.

[edit] Translations