sting

noun countable

UK /stɪŋ/

Word Forms

singular	sting
plural	stings

1
the pain that you feel when an insect, animal, or plant stings you, or the mark on your body where this happens
He had a nasty wasp sting on his leg.
How do you treat bee stings?
Synonyms and related words
Specific types of pain
backache
bellyache
charley horse
1. 1a
  Britishthe sharp part of an insect’s or animal’s body that it can push into your skin
  Synonyms and related words
  Animal body parts
  anatomical
  anatomy
  antler
2
a sudden pain or uncomfortable feeling
She felt the sting of tears in her eyes.
Synonyms and related words
Pain and pains
ache
agony
anguish
3
informala trick prepared by the police to catch criminals
Synonyms and related words
Crime detection and prevention
agent provocateur
all-points bulletin
APB

phrases

a sting in the tail

take the sting out of something

sting

noun countable

US /stɪŋ/

Word Forms

singular	sting
plural	stings

1
a sudden pain or uncomfortable feeling
She felt the sting of tears in her eyes.
Synonyms and related words
Pain and pains
ache
agony
anguish
2
informala trick prepared by the police to catch criminals
Synonyms and related words
Crime detection and prevention
agent provocateur
all-points bulletin
Amber alert

phrases

a sting in the tail

take the sting out of something

sting

verb

UK /stɪŋ/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	sting
he/she/it	stings
present participle	stinging
past tense	stung
past participle	stung

1
intransitive/transitive if an insect or an animal stings you, it hurts you by sticking a sharp part of its body into your skin
He was stung by a wasp.
Some types of spider can sting.
Synonyms and related words
Insect behaviour
alight
beat
be on the wing
1. 1a
  if a plant stings you, it makes a mark on your skin and hurts you when you touch it
  Synonyms and related words
  What plants can do
  bear
  bear fruit
  bloom
2
intransitive/transitive to have or cause a sudden pain or uncomfortable feeling
My eyes were stinging with the salt in the water.
The smoke stung her eyes.
Synonyms and related words
To feel or cause physical pain and suffering
suffer
hurt
ache
3
transitive to affect someone, often causing them to react in a particular way
Stung by their recent defeat, the French are determined to win this time.
Synonyms and related words
To make someone feel a particular emotion or strong emotions
affect
provoke
inspire
1. 3a
  to make someone feel angry and upset
  She was stung by her father’s criticism.
  Synonyms and related words
  To make someone angry or annoyed
  annoy
  provoke
  anger
  Synonyms and related words
  To make someone feel sad or upset
  upset
  wound
  disturb
4
transitive literaryif tears sting your eyes, you feel as if you are going to cry
Synonyms and related words
Relating to crying and tears
tear
cry
tearful
5
intransitive informalto make someone pay more than they should for something
be stung for something:
I was stung twenty quid for this CD.
Synonyms and related words
Setting, controlling and changing prices and costs
bargain
beat down
bottom out
6
intransitive Britishinformalto borrow money from someone when they do not really want to give it to you
How much did he sting you for this time?
Synonyms and related words
To borrow something
borrow
pawn
check out

sting

verb

US /stɪŋ/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	sting
he/she/it	stings
present participle	stinging
past tense	stung
past participle	stung

1
intransitive/transitive if an insect or an animal stings you, it hurts you by sticking a sharp part of its body into your skin
He was stung by a wasp.
Some types of fish can sting.
Synonyms and related words
Insect behavior
alight
beat
be on the wing
1. 1a
  if a plant stings you, it makes a mark on your skin and hurts you when you touch it
  Synonyms and related words
  What plants can do
  bear
  bear fruit
  bloom
2
intransitive/transitive to have or cause a sudden pain or uncomfortable feeling
The smoke stung her eyes.
My eyes were stinging because of the salt in the water.
Synonyms and related words
To feel or cause physical pain and suffering
suffer
hurt
ache
3
transitive to affect someone, often causing them to react in a particular way
Stung by their recent defeat, the French are determined to win this time.
Synonyms and related words
To make someone feel a particular emotion or strong emotions
affect
provoke
inspire
1. 3a
  to make someone feel angry and upset
  She was stung by her father’s criticism.
  Synonyms and related words
  To make someone angry or annoyed
  annoy
  provoke
  anger
  Synonyms and related words
  To make someone feel sad or upset
  upset
  wound
  disturb
4
transitive literaryif tears sting your eyes, you feel as if you are going to cry
Synonyms and related words
Relating to crying and tears
tear
teardrop
cry
5
intransitive mainly Britishinformalto make someone pay more than they should for something
Synonyms and related words
Setting, controlling and changing prices and costs
appraise
bargain
beat down

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