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sting

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Sting is defined as to cause a sudden pain by wounding or pricking with a sharp point such as from an insect or plant.

(verb)

An example of sting is for a bee to prick a person.

The definition of a sting is a pricking, wounding or causing of pain, or the pain or wound from such an act, or is slang and means a situation in which undercover agents trap criminals.

(noun)

An example of a sting is the act of pricking someone with a needle.
An example of a sting is a situation when the police set up an illegal drug operation in order to catch drug dealers.

See sting in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb stung, stinging

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

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

intransitive verb

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

noun

the act of stinging
a pain or wound resulting from or as from stinging
a thing that urges or stimulates; goad
the ability or power to sting or wound: criticism with much sting in it
a sharp-pointed organ in insects and certain other animals, used to prick, wound, or inject poison
any of the hollow, stinging hairs on some plants, as nettles
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

Origin: OE sting

Related Forms:

stingless adjective

See sting in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb stung stung (stŭng), sting·ing, stings

verb, transitive

To pierce or wound painfully with or as if with a sharp-pointed structure or organ, as that of certain insects.
To cause to feel a sharp, smarting pain by or as if by pricking with a sharp point: smoke stinging our eyes.
To cause to suffer keenly in the mind or feelings: Those harsh words stung me bitterly.
To spur on by or as if by sharp irritation.
Slang To cheat or overcharge.

verb, intransitive

To have, use, or wound with or as if with a sharp-pointed structure or organ, as that of certain insects.
To cause or feel a sharp, smarting pain.

noun

The act of stinging.
The wound or pain caused by or as if by stinging.
A sharp, piercing organ or part, often ejecting a venomous secretion, as the modified ovipositor of a bee or wasp or the spine of certain fishes.
A stinging power, quality, or capacity.
A keen stimulus or incitement; a goad or spur: the sting of curiosity.
Slang A complicated confidence game planned and executed with great care, especially an operation organized and implemented by undercover agents to apprehend criminals.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English stingen

Origin: , from Old English stingan; see stegh- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: