sting Hear it!

sting Definition

sting (stiŋ)

transitive verb stung, sting′·ing

  1. to prick or wound with a sting: said of plants and insects
  2. to cause sharp, sudden, smarting pain to, by or as by pricking with a sharp point the cold wind stinging their cheeks
  3. to cause to suffer mentally; make unhappy to be stung by one's conscience
  4. to stir up or stimulate suddenly and sharply stung into action by her words
  5. Slang to cheat; esp., to overcharge

Etymology: ME stingen < OE stingan, akin to ON stinga < IE base *stegh-, to pierce, sharp > stag

intransitive verb

  1. to use a sting; prick or wound with a sting
  2. to cause or feel sharp, smarting pain, either physical or mental his arm stinging from the blow

noun

  1. the act of stinging
  2. a pain or wound resulting from or as from stinging
  3. a thing that urges or stimulates; goad
  4. the ability or power to sting or wound criticism with much sting in it
  5. a sharp-pointed organ in insects and certain other animals, used to prick, wound, or inject poison
  6. any of the hollow, stinging hairs on some plants, as nettles
  7. Slang an instance or method of cheating or swindling, as in a confidence game; esp., such an instance or method engaged in by law-enforcement agents to entrap criminals

Etymology: OE sting

sting Related Forms

sting′·less adjective

sting Synonyms

sting

n.

  1. An injury

    wound, cut, sore, stab, bite; see also injury 1.

  2. Pain

    prick, bite, burn; see pain 2.

sting Synonyms

sting

v.

prick, prickle, tingle; see hurt 4.

sting Usage Examples

Subject

  • jellyfish: Hugh attacked - Jan 05 Hugh Grant stung by jellyfish in Barbados.
  • scorpion: A Northern Ireland woman has been stung by a rare scorpion during a visit to her local supermarket.
  • wasp: Apart from troubling your baby, they will be in danger of being stung by the wasp or infected by the fly.
  • bee: You are several thousand times more likely to be stung by a bee or wasp than be bitten by a spider in the UK.
  • nettle: The rash that occurs after being stung by nettles happens within minutes of contact.

Adjective modifier

nasty: Watch out for the fire corals in shallow water these creamy tan or mustard colored corals can give a nasty sting.

Modifies a noun

ray: There must have been about 30 sting rays swimming about our legs.

Noun used with modifier

  • wasp: She showed us a " little " wasp sting on her arm.
  • nettle: The beginner can rest assured, however that the fear of nettle stings is always far worse than the actual sting.
  • jellyfish: Is anybody able to confirm this is a jellyfish sting from their own experience?
  • bee: Some suffer bee sting like symptoms others like me get the full works.
  • scorpion: Treatment of a scorpion sting Pain at the site of the sting can sometimes be limited with an ice cube.
  • insect: Insect stings in the mouth or throat may cause swelling leading to asphyxia.

Preposition: in

tail: Two ugly stings in the tail Now, the bad news.

Preposition: like

bee: Back to top Boxing ' Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee!

Preposition: by

  • jellyfish: Hugh attacked - Jan 05 Hugh Grant stung by jellyfish in Barbados.
  • scorpion: A Northern Ireland woman has been stung by a rare scorpion during a visit to her local supermarket.
  • wasp: Apart from troubling your baby, they will be in danger of being stung by the wasp or infected by the fly.
  • bee: You are several thousand times more likely to be stung by a bee or wasp than be bitten by a spider in the UK.
  • nettle: The rash that occurs after being stung by nettles happens within minutes of contact.