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nettle

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The definition of a nettle is a tall weed that has pointy hairs on the leaves and stems.

(noun)

An example of a nettle is a stinging nettle.

Nettle is defined as to sting, poke or annoy.

(verb)

An example of to nettle is to continuously poke someone with a stick.

See nettle in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

any of a genus (Urtica) of annual and perennial weeds of the nettle family with stinging hairs
any of various other stinging or spiny plants

Origin: ME netle < OE netele, akin to Ger nessel < IE base *ned-, to twist together > net: from the use of such plants as a source of spinning fiber

adjective

designating a family (Urticaceae, order Urticales) of chiefly tropical, dicotyledonous plants usually covered with stinging hairs, including the ramie

transitive verb nettled, nettling

to sting with or as with nettles
to irritate; annoy; vex

Related Forms:

nettler noun

See nettle in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Any of numerous plants of the genus Urtica, having toothed leaves, unisexual apetalous flowers, and stinging hairs that cause skin irritation on contact.
Any of various hairy, stinging, or prickly plants.

transitive verb net·tled, net·tling, net·tles