needle

needle
I. noun Etymology: Middle English nedle, from Old English nǣdl; akin to Old High German nādala needle, nājan to sew, Latin nēre to spin, Greek nēn Date: before 12th century 1. a. a small slender usually steel instrument that has an eye for thread or surgical sutures at one end and that is used for sewing b. any of various devices for carrying thread and making stitches (as in crocheting or knitting) c. (1) a slender hollow instrument for introducing material into or removing material from the body (as by insertion under the skin) (2) any of various slender hollow devices used to introduce matter (as air) into or remove it from an object (as a ball) 2. a. a slender bar of magnetized steel that when allowed to turn freely (as in a compass) indicates the direction of a magnetic field (as of the earth) b. a slender usually sharp-pointed indicator on a dial 3. a. a slender pointed object resembling a needle: as (1) a pointed crystal (2) a sharp rock (3) obelisk b. a needle-shaped leaf (as of a conifer) c. a slender rod (as of jewel or steel) with a rounded tip used in a phonograph to transmit vibrations from a record ; stylus d. a slender pointed rod controlling a fine inlet or outlet (as in a valve) 4. a teasing or gibing remark • needlelike adjective II. verb (needled; needling) Date: circa 1715 transitive verb 1. to sew or pierce with or as if with a needle 2. a. tease, torment b. to incite to action by repeated gibes <
needled the boy into a fight
> intransitive verb sew, embroider • needler noun

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • Needle — may refer to: Contents 1 Crafting 2 Botany 3 Geography 4 …   Wikipedia

  • Needle — Nee dle (n[=e] d l), n. [OE. nedle, AS. n[=ae]dl; akin to D. neald, OS. n[=a]dla, G. nadel, OHG. n[=a]dal, n[=a]dala, Icel. n[=a]l, Sw. n[*a]l, Dan. naal, and also to G. n[ a]hen to sew, OHG. n[=a]jan, L. nere to spin, Gr. ne ein, and perh. to E …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • needle — [nēd′ l] n. [ME nedle < OE nædl, akin to Ger nadel < IE base * (s)nē , *(s)nēi , to sew, spin > SNOOD, L nere, Gr nein, to spin] 1. a) a small, slender piece of steel with a sharp point at one end and a hole for thread at the other, used …   English World dictionary

  • Needle — Título Needle Ficha técnica Dirección John V. Soto Producción Diedre Kitcher Guion …   Wikipedia Español

  • Needle — Nee dle, v. t. 1. To form in the shape of a needle; as, to needle crystals. [1913 Webster] 2. To tease (a person), especially repeatedly. [PJC] 3. To prod or goad (someone) into action by teasing or daring. [PJC] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • needle — ► NOUN 1) a very thin pointed piece of metal with a hole or eye for thread at the blunter end, used in sewing. 2) a similar, larger instrument without an eye, used in knitting, crochet, etc. 3) the pointed hollow end of a hypodermic syringe. 4) a …   English terms dictionary

  • Needle — Nee dle, v. i. To form needles; to crystallize in the form of needles. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • needle — index annoy, harrow, harry (harass), irritate, pique, plague, stimulus Burton s Legal Thesaurus. W …   Law dictionary

  • needle — [v] tease, annoy aggravate, badger, bait, bedevil, bother, examine, gnaw, goad, harass, hector, irk, irritate, nag, nettle, pester, plague, prick, prod, provoke, question, quiz, ride*, rile, ruffle, spur, sting, taunt, tweak*, worry; concepts… …   New thesaurus

  • needle — noun 1 for sewing, knitting, etc. ADJECTIVE ▪ long ▪ blunt ▪ sharp ▪ fine ▪ darning, embroidery …   Collocations dictionary

  • needle — needlelike, adj. /need l/, n., v., needled, needling. n. 1. a small, slender, rodlike instrument, usually of polished steel, with a sharp point at one end and an eye or hole for thread at the other, for passing thread through cloth to make… …   Universalium

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