sting - Wiktionary, the free dictionary (original) (raw)

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

A wasp sting—a pointed portion of an insect

From Middle English styng, sting, stynge, stenge, from Old English sting, stincg (“a sting, stab, thrust made with a pointed instrument; the wound made by a stab or sting”), from Proto-Germanic *stingaz; possibly also from Old English stynġ, from Proto-Germanic *stungiz.

sting (plural stings)

a sting (etymology 1 sense 8)

  1. A bump left on the skin after having been stung.
    Look at this nasty hornet sting: it's turned blue!
  2. A puncture made by an insect or arachnid in an attack, usually including the injection of venom.
    She died from a bee sting.
  3. A pointed portion of an insect or arachnid used for attack.
    Synonym: stinger
  4. A sharp, localized pain primarily on the epidermis.
    That plant will give a little sting if you touch it.
  5. (botany) A sharp-pointed hollow hair seated on a gland which secretes an acrid fluid, as in nettles.
  6. The thrust of a sting into the flesh; the act of stinging; a wound inflicted by stinging.
  7. (law enforcement) A police operation in which the police pretend to engage in criminal activity in order to catch a criminal.
    The criminal gang was caught after a successful sting.
    • 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Citadel:
      Shepard: I'm taking you in, Jax.
      Turian Bodyguard: It's a sting. Bastard set us up.
      Jax: What the hell are you playing at?
  8. A short percussive phrase played by a drummer to accent the punchline in a comedy show.
  9. A brief sequence of music used in films, TV, and video games as a form of scenic punctuation or to identify the broadcasting station.
    Synonym: sounder
  10. A support for a wind tunnel model which extends parallel to the air flow.
  1. (figurative) The harmful or painful part of something.
  1. A goad; incitement.
  1. The concluding point of an epigram or other sarcastic saying.

bump on skin

puncture

pointed portion of an insect or arachnid used for attack — see stinger

thrust of a sting into the flesh

comedy: short phrase played to accent the punchline

brief sequence of music in films, TV, and video games

support for a wind tunnel model

harmful or painful part of something

concluding point of a sarcastic saying

From Middle English stingen, from Old English stingan, from Proto-Germanic *stinganą. Compare Swedish and Icelandic stinga.

sting (third-person singular simple present stings, present participle stinging, simple past stung or (rare, dialectal) stang, past participle stung)

  1. (ambitransitive) To hurt, usually by introducing poison or a sharp point, or both.
  2. (transitive, of an insect or arachnid) To puncture with the stinger.
    A mosquito stung me on the arm.
  3. (intransitive, sometimes figurative) To hurt, to be in pain (physically or emotionally).
    Synonym: smart
    My eyes are stinging from the chopped onions.
    My hand stings after knocking on the door so long.
    Still, it stung when a slightly older acquaintance asked me why I couldn't do any better.
    • 2011 January 11, Jonathan Stevenson, “West Ham 2 - 1 Birmingham”, in BBC‎[2]:
      But Birmingham were clearly stung by some harsh words from manager Alex McLeish at the break and within 15 minutes of the restart the game had an entirely different complexion.
    • 2021 December 11, Julian Young, “Halo Infinite players will soon be able to replay campaign missions”, in Dexerto‎[3]:
      While the absence of replayable story missions certainly stings for many fans, Halo Infinite’s campaign still has plenty to offer.
  4. (figurative) To cause harm or pain to.
    I thought I could park in front of the hotel, but they stung me for five pounds!

to hurt

of an insect or arachnid: to puncture with the stinger

sting

  1. alternative form of styng

sting

  1. (Northern) alternative form of styngen

From the verb stinge.

sting n (definite singular stinget, indefinite plural **sting, definite plural stinga or stingene)

  1. a stitch (in sewing and surgery)
  2. stitch (pain in the side)
    Synonyms: hold, leverhogg

From the verb stinga, from Old Norse stinga, from Proto-Germanic *stinganą.

sting m (definite singular stingen, indefinite plural stingar or stinger, definite plural stingane or stingene)

  1. clipping of miltsting

sting n (definite singular stinget, indefinite plural **sting, definite plural stinga)

  1. a stitch (in sewing and surgery)

From Proto-Germanic *stingaz; akin to stingan.

sting m

  1. sting, stinging (of an animal)
  2. stab, thrust made with a pointed instrument; the wound made by a stab or sting

Strong _a_-stem:

sting

  1. inflection of stinge:
    1. first-person singular present indicative/subjunctive
    2. third-person plural present indicative

sting

  1. imperative of stinga