sting

Meaning

Noun

1. A bump left on the skin after having been stung.
2. A puncture made by an insect or arachnid in an attack, usually including the injection of venom.
3. A pointed portion of an insect or arachnid used for attack.
4. A sharp, localized pain primarily on the epidermis.
5. 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. A police operation in which the police pretend to engage in criminal activity in order to catch a criminal.
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.
10. A support for a wind tunnel model which extends parallel to the air flow.
11. (figuratively) The harmful or painful part of something.
12. A goad; incitement.
13. The concluding point of an epigram or other sarcastic saying.

Verb

1. (ambitransitive) To hurt, usually by introducing poison or a sharp point, or both.
2. (transitive) To puncture with the stinger.
3. (figuratively, intransitive, sometimes) To hurt, to be in pain (physically or emotionally).
4. (figuratively) To cause harm or pain to.

Synonyms

bite

prick

stab

smart

hurt

pierce

burn

stick

peck

twinge

prod

wound

pinch

pang

stitch

cause pain

jab

stinger

spear

puncture

prickle

pain

irritate

thrust

stinging

nip

tingle

con

spine

spur

shoot

cheat

pique

point

insect bite

itch

thorn

taunt

fleece

confidence game

bunco

shot

quilt

sear

edge

pin down

dupe

bit

do

offend

Translations

piquer

stechen

pungere

picar

piqûre

Stich

steken

Stachel

pinchar

brennen

picotear

priemen

prikken

pungiglione

picar

Pronounced as (IPA)

/stɪŋ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: stynge

Inherited from Old English: sting

Inherited from Middle English: stingen

Inherited from Old English: stingan

In summary

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.