needle

plural needles

1. A long, thin, sharp implement usually for piercing as in sewing, embroidery, acupuncture, tattooing, body piercing, medical injections, sutures, etc; or a blunt but otherwise similar implement used for forming loops or knots in crafts such as darning, knitting, tatting, etc.

   reusable needles

   2 more examples

   The seamstress threaded the needle to sew on a button.

   single-use needles

   Synonyms: neele

2. Any slender, pointed object resembling a needle, such as a pointed crystal, a sharp pinnacle of rock, an obelisk, etc.
3. A fine measurement indicator on a dial or graph.

   a compass needle

   2 more examples

   The needle on the fuel gauge pointed to empty.

   "[…] 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 the needles 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."

   2023 November 15, Prof. Jim Wild, “This train was delayed because of bad weather in space”, in RAIL, number 996, page 30

4. informalA sensor for playing phonograph records, a phonograph stylus.

   Ziggy bought some diamond needles for his hi-fi phonograph.

5. A needle-like leaf found on some conifers.

   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 a needle from his mouth.

   1994, Stephen Fry, chapter 2, in The Hippopotamus

6. A strong beam resting on props, used as a temporary support during building repairs.
7. informalusually preceded by theThe death penalty carried out by lethal injection.
8. computingA text string that is searched for within another string. (see: needle in a haystack)

   Both of these functions will look through the haystack for the specified needle and, if they find it, will return the portion of the string from the beginning of the needle to the end of the haystack.

   2010, Peter MacIntyre, PHP: The Good Parts, page 39

9. biologyAny of various species of damselfly of the genus Synlestes, endemic to Australia.
10. gymnasticsA move in which the performer begins with two hands and one leg on the floor, then kicks the other leg into a full split.

present singular third person needles · participle present needling · participle past needled · past needled

1. To pierce with a needle, especially for sewing or acupuncture.

   Possibly the greatest effect is achieved in the hand by needling the thumb, the index finger and the region of the 1st and 2nd metacarpal.

   2000, Felix Mann, Reinventing Acupuncture, page 109

   1 more example

   […]the eyes were once more beginning to show the old nystagmus; so I decided to needle the cataracts, and on Jan. 31 I needled the right eye.

   1892, H. Lindo Ferguson, “Operation on Microphthamlmic Eyes”, in Ophthalmic Review, volume 11, page 48

2. transitiveTo tease in order to provoke; to poke fun at.

   Billy needled his sister incessantly about her pimples.

   3 more examples

   FRED: Well, I teased her to some extent, or I needled her, not teased her. I needled her about—first I said that she didn't want to work, and then I think that there were a couple of comments.

   1984, Leopold Caligor, Philip M. Bromberg, James D. Meltzer, Clinical Perspectives on the Supervision of Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, page 14

   To needle Lady Leviathan, Hel has convinced her husband to agree to the heartful offer.

   2015, Carl Gleba, “Megaverse in Flames”, in Rifts World Book 35

   Significantly, similar language was used by Sullivan, who had been needled by a question from a Ukrainian activist who suggested the US was “afraid of Ukraine winning”.

   2023 July 12, Dan Sabbagh, “Zelenskiy forced to recalibrate to avert Nato summit falling-out”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

   Synonyms: goad, tease

3. ambitransitiveTo form, or be formed, in the shape of a needle.

   to needle crystals

plural Needles · alternative Needell

1. A surname.