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needle

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also:Needle

English

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WOTD – 20 September 2009
An assortment of sewing needles
A hypodermic needle and syringe
Needles (botany)

Etymology

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FromMiddle Englishnedle, fromOld Englishnǣdl, fromProto-West Germanic*nāþlu, fromProto-Germanic*nēþlō, from pre-Germanic*neh₁-tleh₂, fromProto-Indo-European*(s)neh₁-(“to spin, twist”).

Cognates

Cognate withDutchnaald(“needle”),GermanNadel(“needle, pin, crochet hook”),Germannähen(“sew”),Danishnål(“needle”),Norwegiannål(“needle”),Finnishneula(“needle”). Further related with Welshnyddu, Latinnēre, Sanskritस्नायति(snāyati,“wraps up, winds”). Related tosnood.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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needle (pluralneedles)

  1. Along,thin, sharpimplement usually forpiercing as insewing,embroidery,acupuncture,tattooing,bodypiercing,medicalinjections,sutures, etc; or a blunt but otherwise similar implement used for formingloops orknots in crafts such asdarning,knitting,tatting, etc.
    The seamstress threaded theneedle to sew on a button.
    reusableneedles
    single-useneedles
  2. Any slender, pointed object resembling a needle, such as apointedcrystal, a sharppinnacle ofrock, anobelisk, etc.
  3. A finemeasurementindicator on adial orgraph.
    a compassneedle
    Theneedle on the fuel gauge pointed to empty.
    • 2023 November 15, Prof. Jim Wild, “This train was delayed because of bad weather in space”, inRAIL, number996, page30:
      "[…] On the 18th of October, 1841, a very intense magnetic disturbance was recorded, and amongst other curious facts mentioned is that of the detention of the 10:05pm express train at Exeter for 16 minutes, as from the magnetic disturbance affecting theneedles so powerfully, it was impossible to ascertain if the line was clear at Starcross. The superintendent at Exeter reported the next morning that someone was playing tricks with the instruments, and would not let them work."
  4. (informal) Asensor for playingphonographrecords, a phonographstylus.
    Ziggy bought some diamondneedles for his hi-fi phonograph.
  5. A needle-like leaf found on someconifers.
    • 1994,Stephen Fry, chapter 2, inThe Hippopotamus:
      At the very moment he cried out, David realised that what he had run into was only the Christmas tree. Disgusted with himself at such cowardice, he spat aneedle from his mouth.
  6. A strong beam resting on props, used as atemporarysupport during building repairs.
  7. (informal, usually preceded bythe) Thedeath penalty carried out bylethal injection.
  8. (programming) Atextstring that issearched for within another string. (see:needle in a haystack)
    • 2010, Peter MacIntyre,PHP: The Good Parts, page39:
      Both of these functions will look through the haystack for the specifiedneedle and, if they find it, will return the portion of the string from the beginning of the needle to the end of the haystack.
  9. (entomology) Any of various species ofdamselfly of the genusSynlestes,endemic to Australia.
  10. (gymnastics) A move in which the performer begins with two hands and one leg on the floor, then kicks the other leg into a full split.

Hyponyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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implement for sewing etc.
indicating device
sensor phonograph stylus
leaf of conifer
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions atWiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked

See also

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Further reading

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Verb

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needle (third-person singular simple presentneedles,present participleneedling,simple past and past participleneedled)

  1. Topierce with a needle, especially forsewing oracupuncture.
    • 1892, H. Lindo Ferguson, “Operation on Microphthamlmic Eyes”, inOphthalmic Review, volume11, page48:
      […]the eyes were once more beginning to show the old nystagmus; so I decided toneedle the cataracts, and on Jan. 31 Ineedled the right eye.
    • 2000, Felix Mann,Reinventing Acupuncture, page109:
      Possibly the greatest effect is achieved in the hand byneedling the thumb, the index finger and the region of the 1st and 2nd metacarpal.
  2. (transitive) Totease in order toprovoke; topoke fun at.
    Synonyms:goad,tease
    Billyneedled his sister incessantly about her pimples.
    • 1984, Leopold Caligor, Philip M. Bromberg, James D. Meltzer,Clinical Perspectives on the Supervision of Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, page14:
      FRED: Well, I teased her to some extent, or Ineedled her, not teased her. Ineedled her about—first I said that she didn't want to work, and then I think that there were a couple of comments.
    • 2015, Carl Gleba, “Megaverse in Flames”, inRifts World Book 35:
      Toneedle Lady Leviathan, Hel has convinced her husband to agree to the heartful offer.
    • 2023 July 12, Dan Sabbagh, “Zelenskiy forced to recalibrate to avert Nato summit falling-out”, inThe Guardian‎[1],→ISSN:
      Significantly, similar language was used by Sullivan, who had beenneedled by a question from a Ukrainian activist who suggested the US was “afraid of Ukraine winning”.
  3. (ambitransitive) To form, or be formed, in the shape of a needle.
    toneedle crystals

Derived terms

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Translations

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to pierce with a needle
to tease in order to provoke

Anagrams

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