Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense, plural needles, present participle needling, past tense, past participle needled
1. countable noun
A needle is a small, very thin piece of polished metal which is used for sewing. It has a sharp point at one end and a hole in theother for a thread to go through.
2. countable noun
Knitting needles are thin sticks that are used for knitting. They are usually made of plastic or metal and have a point at one end.
3. countable noun
A needle is a thin hollow metal rod with a sharp point, which is part of a medical instrument called a syringe. It is used to put a drug into someone's body, or totake blood out.
4. countable noun
A needle is a thin metal rod with a point which is put into a patient's body during acupuncture.
5. countable noun
On a record player, the needle is the small pointed device that touches the record and picks up the sound signals.
She took the needle off the record and turned the lights out.
6. countable noun
On an instrument which measures something such as speed or weight, the needle is the long strip of metal or plastic on the dial that moves backwards and forwards, showing the measurement.
She kept looking at the dial on the boiler. The needle had reached 250 degrees.
7. countable noun [usually plural]
The needles of a fir or pine tree are its thin, hard, pointed leaves.
The carpet of pine needles was soft underfoot.
8. verb
If someone needles you, they annoy you continually, especially by criticizing you.
Blake could see he had needled Jerrold, which might be unwise. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: irritate, anger, provoke, annoy More Synonyms of needle
9. See also pins and needles
10. like looking for a needle in a haystack
needle in British English
(ˈniːdəl)
noun
1.
a pointed slender piece of metal, usually steel, with a hole or eye in it through which thread is passed for sewing
2.
a somewhat larger rod with a point at one or each end, used in knitting
3.
a similar instrument with a hook at one end for crocheting
4.
a. another name for stylus (sense 3)
b.
a small thin pointed device, esp one made of stainless steel, used to transmit the vibrations from a gramophone record to the pick-up
5. medicine
a.
the long hollow pointed part of a hypodermic syringe, which is inserted into the body
b. an informal name for hypodermic syringe
6. surgery
a pointed steel instrument, often curved, for suturing, puncturing, or ligating
7.
a long narrow stiff leaf, esp of a conifer, in which water loss is greatly reduced
pine needles
8.
any slender sharp spine, such as the spine of a sea urchin
9.
any slender pointer for indicating the reading on the scale of a measuring instrument
10. short for magnetic needle
11.
a crystal resembling a needle in shape
12.
a sharp pointed metal instrument used in engraving and etching
13.
anything long and pointed, such as an obelisk
a needle of light
14.
a short horizontal beam passed through a wall and supported on vertical posts to take the load of the upper part of the wall
15. informal
a.
anger or intense rivalry, esp in a sporting encounter
b.
(as modifier)
a needle match
16. get the needle
verb
17. (transitive) informal
to goad or provoke, as by constant criticism
18. (transitive)
to sew, embroider, or prick (fabric) with a needle
19. (transitive) US
to increase the alcoholic strength of (beer or other beverages)
20. (intransitive)
(of a substance) to form needle-shaped crystals
Word origin
Old English nǣdl; related to Gothic nēthla, German Nadel
needle in American English
(ˈnidəl)
noun
1.
a.
a small, slender piece of steel with a sharp point at one end and a hole for threadat the other, used for sewing by hand or for surgical sutures
b.
a similar implement with a hole for thread near the pointed end, used esp. on sewing machines
2.
a.
a slender rod of steel, bone, wood, etc. with a hook at one end, used for crocheting
b.
a similar rod, usually larger and without a hook, used in knitting
3.
stylus (sense 3) stylus (sense 3b)
4.
a pointed instrument used in etching or engraving
5.
a.
the magnetized pointer of a compass
b.
the indicator or pointer of a speedometer or other gauge
6.
the thin, short, pointed leaf of such trees as the pine, spruce, etc.
7.
needle valve
8.
a.
the sharp, very slender metal tube at the end of a hypodermic syringe, that is introduced into the blood vessel, muscle, etc.
b. US, Informal
a hypodermic injection
c.
any of various other slender, tubelike devices for inserting, as to inflate or inject
9.
electric needle
10.
any object roughly resembling a needle or its point in shape, as the sharp point of some crystals, anarrow, pointed rock, an obelisk, spire, etc.
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈneedled or ˈneedling
11.
to sew, puncture, etc. with a needle
12. Informal
a.
to provoke into doing something; goad; prod
b.
to tease or heckle
13. US, Slang
to strengthen by adding alcohol
to needle beer
verb intransitive
14.
to work with a needle; sew
15.
to form needles in crystallization
Idioms:
give someone the needle
on the needle
Derived forms
needlelike (ˈneedleˌlike)
adjective
needler (ˈneedler)
noun
Word origin
ME nedle < OE nædl, akin to Ger nadel < IE base *(s)nē-, *(s)nēi-, to sew, spin > UNRESOLVED CROSS REF, L nere, Gr nein, to spin
More idioms containing
needle
like looking for a needle in a haystack
Examples of 'needle' in a sentence
needle
How to draw the solution into the syringe with the long needle.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Just when you thought it was safe to put the vacuum away, you spy yet another pine needle lurking between the floorboards.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
A wind springs up, a strong gust that carries the pungent scent of pine needles.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
A little wool, a couple of knitting needles and a bit of time and lives can be changed.
The Sun (2016)
Their plight - and many more like them - has inspired you to pick up your knitting needles in droves.
The Sun (2016)
Whether you are planting in a container or in the ground, don't forget a good acidic mulch of pine needles or wood chip.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The rain came thick like freezing steel needles.
Magnouloux, Bernard Travels with Rosinante (1990)
It is much easier to sew a needle with two eyes on the job rather than one!
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Which way would the needle point in your life?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
She made a bed on pine needles and branches.
The Sun (2016)
The printing head consists of a set of needles mounted one above the other in a line.
Samways, B. & Byrne-Jones, T. Computers Basic Facts (1983)
The next part is the actual injection of stem cells using an extremely thin needle.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He has constant pins and needles over his upper body and waning strength.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
You can now put those knitting needles down as we have drawn the campaign to a close.
The Sun (2015)
Bring your needle through the fabric from the back to the front.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The doc used needles to drain the blood off.
The Sun (2013)
Then a needle no bigger than a sewing needle was put into my muscles and the signal the nerve made was recorded.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
She used to supplement his income by sewing, but could no longer afford needles and thread.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Because they are quite heavy, metal needles are rarely available in larger sizes.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He may be 81 but he is as sharp as a needle.
The Sun (2013)
The result is pain in the back and legs - sometimes with pins and needles - especially when walking.
The Sun (2011)
Word lists with
needle
Medical and surgical instruments and equipment
In other languages
needle
British English: needle /ˈniːdl/ NOUN
A needle is a small very thin piece of metal with a hole at one end and a sharp point at the other, which is used for sewing.