noun
needle
NEE-duhl
noun
1
A thin, sharp tool used for sewing, injections, acupuncture, or piercing.
"She threaded the needle and began stitching the hem."
"The nurse used a fresh needle for the injection."
2
A pointer on a dial, compass, or gauge.
"The compass needle swung north."
3
The thin, pointed leaf of certain conifer trees, such as pine.
"Pine needles covered the forest floor."
verb
1
To tease or provoke someone persistently.
"He kept needling his brother about the missed shot."
How to Use Needle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA thin, sharp sewing or medical tool, or (as a verb) to tease someone.
Common pairings
needle and thread
pins and needles
needle someone about
Word Forms
needled past tense, needles plural, Needles plural, needles singular
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She threaded the _____ and began stitching the hem.
Etymology
From Old English nǣdl, ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to spin or twist" — related to modern German Nadel.