Contents

English

An assortment of sewing needles a hypodermic needle and syringe

Etymology

From Old English nædl.

Pronunciation

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. (Can we verify() this sense?) A weapon used in ancient China, and today by Shaolin monks.
  6. The death penalty carried out by lethal injection

Derived terms

terms derived from needle (noun)

See also

Verb

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

  1. To pierce with a needle, especially for sewing or acupuncture.
    • 1892, H. Lindo Ferguson, "Operation on Microphthamlmic Eyes", Ophthalmic Review‎, volume 11, page 48
      […] the eyes were once more beginning to show the old nystagmus; so I decided to needle the cataracts, and on Jan. 31 I needled the right eye.
    • 2000, Felix Mann, Reinventing Acupuncture, page 109
      Possibly the greatest effect is achieved in the hand by needling the thumb, the index finger and the region of the 1st and 2nd metacarpal.
  2. (transitive) To tease in order to provoke; to poke fun at.
    Billy needled his sister incessantly about her pimples.
    • 1984, Leopold Caligor, Philip M. Bromberg, & James D. Meltzer, Clinical Perspectives on the Supervision of Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy‎, page 14
      FRED: Well, I teased her to some extent, or I needled her, not teased her. I needled her about—first I said that she didn't want to work, and then I think that there were a couple of comments.

Synonyms

Translations

to pierce with a needle
to tease in order to provoke
  • Polish: drażnić pl(pl)
  • Swahili: sindano sw(sw)

Anagrams

 

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v. byram cove, INC. Leagle.com Daniel B. Needle argued the cause for appellant (Emanuel Needle , attorney; Emanuel Needle , on the brief). Michele C. Lefkowitz argued the cause for ...
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flank at the level of the breastbone The skin is cleaned with betadine and covered with sterile towels Lidocaine a local anesthetic is used to numb the skin for added comfort A special needle is used to obtain the biopsy It is called a Klatskin needle named after the famous liver pathologist Dr Gerald Klatskin Once the proper position is identified and confirmed with

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