Meanings
nounneedlework (countable and uncountable, plural needleworks)
plural needleworks · alternative archaic needle-work
- countableuncountableThe art or process of working with a needle especially in embroidery or needlepoint.
- countableuncountableThe product of such art or process.
- countableuncountableThe occupation or employment of a person skilled in embroidery, needlepoint, etc.
Synonyms & antonyms
Similar
nounwork (such as sewing or embroidery) that is done with a needle
Similar
Broader
Also see
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*(s)neh₁-
- Proto-Indo-European*(s)néh₁tlom
- Proto-Germanic*nēþlą
- Proto-Germanic*nēþlō
- Proto-West Germanic*nāþlu
- Old Englishnǣdl
- Middle Englishnedle
- Englishneedle
- Englishneedlework
Translations
Bulgarian шев, бродиране
- шев (šev)process of working with a needle
- бродиране (brodirane)process of working with a needle
- бродерия (broderija)product of working with a needle
- ръкоделие (răkodelie)occupation of a person skilled in working with a needle
Finnish koristeompelu, koruompelu
- koristeompeluprocess of working with a needle
- koruompeluprocess of working with a needle
- kirjontaprocess of working with a needle
- koruommelproduct of working with a needle
- koristeompelijaoccupation of a person skilled in working with a needle
- koruompelijaoccupation of a person skilled in working with a needle
French couture, travaux d'aiguille
- coutureprocess of working with a needle
- travaux d'aiguilleprocess of working with a needle
- ouvrageproduct of working with a needle
German Handarbeit
- Handarbeitprocess of working with a needle
Hungarian kézimunka, varrás
- kézimunkaprocess of working with a needle
- varrásprocess of working with a needle
- hímzésprocess of working with a needle
Icelandic saumaskapur, saumaskapur
- saumaskapurprocess of working with a needle
- saumaskapurproduct of working with a needle
- saumaskapuroccupation of a person skilled in working with a needle
Irish fuáil, obair shnáthaide
- fuáilprocess of working with a needle
- obair shnáthaideprocess of working with a needle
- obair shnáthaideproduct of working with a needle
- obair shnáthaideoccupation of a person skilled in working with a needle
Latin cōnsūtūra
- cōnsūtūraprocess of working with a needle
Polish szycie, robótka ręczna
- szycieprocess of working with a needle
- robótka ręcznaproduct of working with a needle
- wyszywanieoccupation of a person skilled in working with a needle
Romanian coasere, cusătură
- coasereprocess of working with a needle
- cusăturăprocess of working with a needle
Russian шитьё, вышива́ние
- шитьё (šitʹjó)process of working with a needle
- вышива́ние (vyšivánije)process of working with a needle
- рукоде́лие (rukodélije)process of working with a needle
- вяза́ние (vjazánije)process of working with a needle
Spanish costura, cosedura
- costuraprocess of working with a needle
- coseduraprocess of working with a needle
- costuraproduct of working with a needle
- coseduraproduct of working with a needle
- costuraoccupation of a person skilled in working with a needle
- coseduraoccupation of a person skilled in working with a needle
Cite this entry
APA
needlework. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/needlework
MLA
“needlework.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/needlework. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “needlework,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/needlework.
Source: needlework on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.