sting1 verbsting2 noun
stingsting1 /stɪŋ/ ●●○ verb (past tense and past participle stung /stʌŋ/) 
WORD ORIGINsting1
Origin:
Old English stinganVERB TABLE
sting
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | sting |
| he, she, it | stings | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | stung |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have stung |
| he, she, it | has stung | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had stung |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will sting |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have stung |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am stinging |
| he, she, it | is stinging | |
| you, we, they | are stinging | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was stinging |
| you, we, they | were stinging | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been stinging |
| he, she, it | has been stinging | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been stinging |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be stinging |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been stinging |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Cigarette smoke stings my eyes.
- Henry was stung by a bee at the picnic.
- His cheek stung where his mother had slapped him.
- Lathan was stung by the senator's harsh criticism.
- The paper cut on my finger really stings.
- The smoke stung my eyes.
- The smoke made our eyes sting.
- Gabby felt tears sting her eyes, suddenly realizing the full force of what was happening.
- He concludes that the mist is a vapor which stings the skin of man.
- If it had been anyone but a Ryan ... She felt tears of frustration stinging her eyes.
- Returning to the jungle he finds he has to kill Lowery who has been stung by a Varga.
- Though not as deadly as the sea wasp, this jellyfish can cause severe irritation if it stings a human.
THESAURUS
to use your teeth to cut, crush, or chew something: · The dog bit me!· I sometimes bite my fingernails when I’m nervous.· He bit into the apple.
to keep biting something that is in your mouth: · Helen was chewing a piece of gum.· He was chewing on a cigar.
if an animal gnaws something, it bites it repeatedly: · The dog was in the yard gnawing on a bone.
to give someone or something a small sharp bite: · When I took the hamster out of his cage, he nipped me.
to take a lot of small bites from something: · A fish nibbled at the bait.· She sat at her desk, nibbling her sandwich.
to bite someone or something with a lot of force, so that your teeth go right into them: · The dog sank its teeth into my leg.· He sank his teeth into the steak.
informal to bite something and chew it in a noisy way: · The donkey was chomping on a carrot.· He was chomping away on big slice of toast.
if an insect stings you, it makes a very small hole in your skin. You use sting about bees, wasps, and scorpions, and bite about mosquitoes, ants, spiders, and snakes: · She stepped on a wasps’ nest and must have been stung at least 20 times.
when part of your body feels painful if part of your body hurts, it feels painful: · My chest hurts when I cough.
to hurt with a continuous pain: · I’d been walking all day and my legs were really aching.
to feel a bad pain that comes and goes again in a regular and continuous way: · Lou had a terrible headache and his whole head seemed to be throbbing.
to feel a sharp pain, or to make someone feel this, especially in your eyes, throat, or skin: · My throat stings every time I swallow.· This injection may sting a little.
to hurt with a sudden sharp pain – used especially about your eyes, or your skin where something has hit you: · Her eyes were smarting from the thick smoke.· Jackson’s face was still smarting from the punch.
to feel very hot and painful or uncomfortable: · Be careful because this chemical will make your skin burn.· His eyes were burning because of the gas.
if something you are wearing pinches you, it is too tight and presses painfully on your skin: · The shirt was a bit too small and it was pinching my neck.
spoken informal used when something feels very painful: · My legs are killing me.· These shoes are killing me.
if you have a bad back/leg/arm etc, it feels painful: · He’s off work with a bad back.
Longman Language Activatorwhen a part of your body feels painful a part of your body that feels painful makes you feel pain: · Jim's knee was still painful where he had fallen on it.· The child suffered painful stomach cramps and vomiting after drinking one of the contaminated drinks.
a part of your body that is sore hurts when you touch or use it, and is often red: · His eyes looked red and sore, as if he had been rubbing them.· Martin was unable to score at all in the game, complaining of a sore knee.sore throat: · She missed more than ten performances that year due to a persistent sore throat and cough.
a part of the body that is tender is painful when it is touched: · My mouth was tender and swollen where he had hit me.· Now I'm going to press down on several places around your knee, and you tell me when it feels tender.
if a part of your body hurts , you feel pain in it, for example because you have hit it or cut it, or because you are ill: · My neck felt stiff and my shoulder hurt.· I fell and banged my knee, and it really hurts.
if a part of your body aches , you feel a pain in it that is continuous but not very strong - use this about pains in your arms, legs, or back, or in your head or stomach: · My arms ached from carrying all the groceries.· She felt hot and her head was beginning to ache.· I went to dance class last week, and I've been aching ever since.
to hurt with a sudden sharp pain for a short time - use this about your eyes or your skin: · The smoke made our eyes sting.· His cheek stung where his mother had slapped him.
if a part of your body throbs you feel pain that seems to get stronger and weaker in a regular repeated pattern: · By late afternoon my head was throbbing, and I couldn't see straight.· He limped heavily, nursing his throbbing ankle.a throbbing pain: · I felt a throbbing pain in my left shin, and pulled up my trouser leg to see what was causing it.
when something makes someone feel pain if something or someone hurts you, they make you feel pain: · Did it hurt when they stuck the needle in?· Stop it - you're hurting me.
to cause a sudden sharp pain on your skin or in your eyes for a short time: · The antiseptic might sting a little.· The smoke stung my eyes.
if a substance irritates a part of your body, especially your eyes or your skin, it makes it become sore: · The pollen irritated my eyes, which were red and streaming with tears.· Nineteen percent of women will still use a beauty product, even if it irritates their skin.
if pain or a particular movement is agonizing or excruciating , it is extremely strong so that you are almost unable to move or do something: · The pain moved to my elbow, and it became agonizing to even lift my arm.· The excruciating pain in his kidneys made him gasp.
especially British, informal if something you do or something someone does to you is agony , it hurts a lot: · It was agony having my tooth removed - I don't think the dentist knew what he was doing.· Climbing five flights of stairs with all those bags was absolute bloody agony.
WORD SETSabdomen, nounant, nounantenna, nounanthill, nounaphid, nounbedbug, nounbee, nounbeetle, nounblack widow, nounbloodsucker, nounblow-fly, nounbluebottle, nounboll weevil, nounbookworm, nounbug, nounbumblebee, nounbutterfly, nouncaterpillar, nouncell, nouncentipede, nounchrysalis, nouncicada, nouncobweb, nouncockchafer, nouncockroach, nouncocoon, nouncomb, nouncrane fly, nouncreepy-crawly, nouncricket, noundaddy longlegs, noundragonfly, noundrone, nounearwig, nounentomology, nounfeeler, nounfirefly, nounflea, nounfly, verbfly, nounfruit fly, noungadfly, nounglow-worm, noungnat, noungossamer, noungrasshopper, noungreenfly, noungrub, nounhoneybee, nounhoneycomb, nounhornet, nounhorsefly, nounhousefly, nouninsect, nouninsectivore, nounkatydid, nounladybird, nounlarva, nounlice, nounlightning bug, nounlocust, nounlouse, nounmaggot, nounmantis, nounmayfly, nounmidge, nounmillipede, nounmite, nounmosquito, nounmoth, nounnectar, nounnest, nounnit, nounnymph, nounpest, nounpod, nounpraying mantis, nounproboscis, nounpupa, nounqueen, nounroach, nounsand fly, nounscarab, nounsilkworm, nounsilverfish, nounspider, nounspin, verbstick insect, nounsting, verbsting, nounstinger, nounsucker, nounswarm, nounswarm, verbtarantula, nountermite, nounthorax, nountick, nountortoiseshell, nountrilobite, nountsetse fly, nountzetze fly, nounvein, nounverminous, adjectivewasp, nounwater bug, nounweb, nounweevil, nounwing, nounwinged, adjectivewoodlouse, nounwoodworm, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a biting satire of the television industry
(=a hole in your skin made by an insect)· This cream is good for treating insect stings.
a biting satire of the television industryPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1[intransitive, transitive] if an insect or a plant stings you, it makes a very small hole in your skin and you feel a sharp pain because of a poisonous substance: - Son, you really cut down to the quick.
- That's probably why she sent him - she knew it would cut him to the quick.
- The answer cut him to the quick.
He was stung by a bee. ► A bee, wasp, scorpion, or plant can sting you. For a mosquito or snake, use bite.► see thesaurus at bite2[intransitive, transitive] to make something hurt with a sudden sharp pain, or to hurt like this: Antiseptic stings a little. Chopping onions makes my eyes sting.► see thesaurus at hurt3[intransitive, transitive] if you are stung by a remark, it makes you feel upset: Their criticism really stung.be stung into (doing) something Her harsh words stung him into action.GRAMMAR Sting is usually passive in this meaning, when used as a transitive verb.sting somebody for something phrasal verb British English informal1to charge someone too much for something: The garage stung him for £300.2to borrow money from someone: Can I sting you for a fiver?sting1 verbsting2 noun
stingsting2 ●●○ noun EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- I had never felt the sting of discrimination before.
- I still felt the sting of her slap on my cheek.
- The bee sting had left a red mark on my arm.
- And not much chance of Fishy learning enough of the local lingo to set up a sting like this.
- Even ten years later, he felt the sting of the rebuke, the motive for which he still fails to understand.
- Only afterward, on the hike back to the parking lot, did I begin to feel the sting of Red Disaster.
- Passage of the bill would ease some of the sting that the White House has felt since its initiative failed.
- Walking from the taxi to his apartment, Ross had felt the sting and throb in his face for the first time.
WORD SETS
aardvark, nounadder, nounAfghan, nounalley cat, nounalligator, nounalpaca, nounAlsatian, nounamphibian, nounamphibious, adjectiveangora, nounanimal, nounanteater, nounantelope, nounanthropoid, adjectiveantler, nounape, nounappaloosa, nounarachnid, nounarmadillo, nounasp, nounass, nounbaa, verbbaboon, nounbaby, nounbadger, nounbantam, nounbark, verbbark, nounbarnacle, nounbasset, nounbat, nounbay, nounbay, verbbay, adjectivebeagle, nounbear, nounbeast, nounbeast of burden, nounbeaver, nounbellow, verbbellow, nounbelly, nounbig cat, nounbig game, nounbighorn sheep, nounbilly goat, nounbiped, nounbison, nounbitch, nounbivalve, nounbleat, verbbloodhound, nounbloodstream, nounblow-hole, nounboa, nounboar, nounbobcat, nounbovine, adjectivebow-wow, nounboxer, nounbrainwave, nounbrindled, adjectivebristle, verbbronc, nounbronco, nounbrontosaurus, nounbrush, nounbuck, nounbuffalo, nounbull, nounbulldog, nounbullfrog, nounbullock, nounbull terrier, nounburro, nounburrow, nouncalf, nouncall, nouncalve, verbcamel, nouncanine, adjectivecanine, nouncarapace, nouncarcass, nouncaribou, nouncarnivore, nouncarthorse, nouncat, nouncattle, nouncaudal, adjectivecayman, nouncetacean, nounchameleon, nounchamois, nouncheetah, nounchestnut, nounchickadee, nounchicken, nounchihuahua, nounchimpanzee, nounchinchilla, nounchipmunk, nounchow, nounclaw, nouncloven hoof, nouncoat, nouncob, nouncobra, nouncocker spaniel, nouncold-blooded, adjectivecollie, nouncolouring, nouncolt, nouncomb, nounconnective tissue, nouncony, nouncoon, nouncopperhead, nouncorgi, nouncougar, nouncourtship, nouncow, nouncoyote, nouncoypu, nouncrest, nouncrocodile, nouncrop, verbcrustacean, nouncry, nouncub, nouncur, noundachshund, nounDalmatian, noundeer, nounden, noundentine, noundingo, noundinosaur, noundoe, noundog, noundolphin, noundomesticate, verbdonkey, noundormouse, noundorsal, adjectivedromedary, nounduckbilled platypus, nounearthworm, nounelephant, nounelk, nounentrails, nounermine, nounewe, nounexcreta, nounexcretion, nounfallopian tube, nounfallow deer, nounfang, nounfauna, nounfawn, nounfeed, nounfeeler, nounfeline, adjectivefeline, nounfemale, adjectivefemale, nounferal, adjectiveferret, nounfetlock, nounfieldmouse, nounfilly, nounfin, nounfleece, nounflipper, nounflying fox, nounfoal, nounfoal, verbfoetus, nounforefoot, nounforeleg, nounfox, nounfoxhound, nounfox terrier, nounFriesian, nounfrog, nounfrogspawn, nounfruit bat, nounfur, nounfurry, adjectivegarter snake, noungazelle, noungecko, noungeese, gelding, noungerbil, nounGerman shepherd, noungestation, noungiant panda, noungibbon, noungiraffe, noungnu, noungoat, noungolden retriever, noungopher, noungorilla, noungregarious, adjectivegreyhound, noungroundhog, nounground squirrel, noungrunt, verbguinea pig, nounhack, nounhackles, nounhairless, adjectivehamster, nounhare, nounhart, nounhaunch, nounhedgehog, nounheifer, nounhen, nounherbivore, nounherd, nounhermit crab, nounhibernate, verbhind, adjectivehind, nounhindquarters, nounhippo, nounhippopotamus, nounhock, nounhog, nounhoof, nounhorned, adjectivehorse, nounhound, nounhowl, verbhump, nounhusky, nounhyaena, nounhybrid, nounhyena, nounibex, nouniguana, nounimpala, nouninbred, adjectiveinbreeding, nouninsectivore, nouninterbreed, verbinvertebrate, nounjackal, nounjackrabbit, nounjaguar, nounjellyfish, nounJersey, nounkangaroo, nounkid, nounkoala, nounkookaburra, nounLabrador, nounlair, nounlamb, nounlemming, nounleopard, nounlion, nounlioness, nounlitter, nounlitter, verblizard, nounllama, nounlonghorn, nounlugworm, nounlynx, nounmale, nounmamba, nounmammal, nounmammary, adjectivemammoth, nounmandible, nounmandrill, nounmane, nounman-eater, nounmare, nounmarmoset, nounmarsupial, nounmarten, nounmastitis, nounmate, nounmate, verbmating, nounmaw, nounmenagerie, nounmew, verbmiaow, verbmice, nounmigrant, nounmilk, verbmimic, verbmimic, nounmink, nounmole, nounmollusc, nounmongoose, nounmongrel, nounmonkey, nounmoo, verbmoose, nounmoult, verbmountain goat, nounmountain lion, nounmouse, nounmule, nounmuskrat, nounmussel, nounmustang, nounmutt, nounmuzzle, nounnag, nounnanny goat, nounnative, adjectivenative, nounnest, nounnewt, nounnocturnal, adjectiveocelot, nounoctopus, nounoffspring, nounoink, interjectionokapi, nounOld English sheepdog, nounomnivore, nounomnivorous, adjectiveopossum, nounorangutang, nounotter, nounox, nounpachyderm, nounpack, nounpad, nounpair, nounpanda, nounpanther, nounparasite, nounparasitic, adjectivepaw, nounpaw, verbpeccary, nounpedigree, adjectivepeke, nounPekinese, nounpelt, nounPersian cat, nounpest, nounpheasant, nounpiebald, adjectivepied, adjectivepig, nounpiggy, nounpiglet, nounpincer, nounpine marten, nounpinto, nounpit bull terrier, nounpit pony, nounplankton, nounplate, nounplatypus, nounpointer, nounpolar bear, nounpolecat, nounpolyp, nounpony, nounpooch, nounpoodle, nounporcupine, nounporker, nounporpoise, nounPortuguese man-of-war, nounpossum, nounpouch, nounprairie dog, nounprance, verbpredation, nounpredator, nounpredatory, adjectiveprehensile, adjectiveprey, nounprickle, nounpride, nounprimate, nounproboscis, nounprocreate, verbprowl, verbpterodactyl, nounpuffin, nounpug, nounpullet, nounpuma, nounpup, nounpurebred, adjectivepurr, verbpussy, nounpython, nounquack, verbquadruped, nounquill, nounrabbit, nounrabbit warren, nounrabid, adjectiveraccoon, nounracoon, nounram, nounrat, nounrattler, nounrattlesnake, nounravening, adjectivereindeer, nounreptile, nounretract, verbretriever, nounrhesus monkey, nounrhino, nounrhinoceros, nounroan, nounrodent, nounroe deer, nounrottweiler, nounruminant, nounruminate, verbrump, nounrunt, nounrut, nounsable, nounsac, nounsalamander, nounsausage dog, nounscavenge, verbschool, nounscorpion, nounseal, nounsea lion, nounseashell, nounsea urchin, nounsemen, nounserpent, nounsetter, nounsex, verbshed, verbsheep, nounsheepdog, nounShetland pony, nounshire horse, nounshrew, nounshrimp, nounSiamese cat, nounsilkworm, nounsimian, adjectivesire, nounskin, nounskunk, nounsloth, nounslug, nounsnail, nounsnake, nounsnakebite, nounsnarl, verbsniffer dog, nounsnout, nounsocial, adjectivesow, nounspaniel, nounspawn, verbspawn, nounsperm whale, nounsponge, nounspoor, nounspore, nounspringbok, nounsquid, nounsquirrel, nounstag, nounstallion, nounstarfish, nounSt Bernard, nounsteed, nounsteer, nounsting, nounstinger, nounstoat, nounstomach, nounstray, adjectivestray, nounstud, nounsucker, nounsuckle, verbsuckling, nounswine, nountadpole, nountail, nountame, adjectivetame, verbtapeworm, nountapir, nounteat, nountentacle, nounterrapin, nounterrier, nounterritorial, adjectiveterritory, nountiger, nountigress, nountoad, nountom, nountomcat, nountooth, nountortoise, nountortoiseshell, nountrumpet, verbtrunk, nountufted, adjectiveturtle, nountusk, nountyrannosaurus, nounudder, nounuterus, nounvampire bat, nounvent, nounvermin, nounvertebrate, nounvicuña, nounviper, nounvivarium, nounvixen, nounvole, nounwag, verbwallaby, nounwallow, verbwalrus, nounwarm-blooded, adjectivewarren, nounwarthog, nounwater buffalo, nounwater rat, nounwater vole, nounweasel, nounweevil, nounwhale, nounwhelk, nounwhelp, nounwhelp, verbwhinny, verbwhippet, nounwhisker, nounwild boar, nounwildcat, nounwildebeest, nounwildfowl, nounwinkle, nounwithers, nounwolf, nounwolfhound, nounwombat, nounwool, nounyak, nounyap, verbyap, nounyearling, nounyelp, nounYorkshire terrier, nounyoung, nounzebra, nounzoologist, nounzoology, nounzygote, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY a bee sting a biting satire of the television industryCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN
a bee sting (=make something less unpleasant or painful) She smiled to take the sting out of her words.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES She smiled to take the sting out of her words. (=a hole in your skin made by an insect)· This cream is good for treating insect stings.
a biting satire of the television industry· For a human being a wasp or bee sting is always painful, but not necessarily serious.· Fire officials said bee stings and poison oak were the most serious problems.· That is only a fraction of the numbers killed by bee stings.· For most people, the reaction to a bee sting is swelling and pain.
· First, a media sting operation caught several senior government aides taking bribes from arms dealers.· Starting in the early 1990s, federal agents began setting up sting operations, including several in Maryland.· Most of the suppliers accused in the sting operations have pleaded guilty to fraud charges.· Plain and simple, LaPlante ran a sting operation on Flinn and entrapped her.
VERB· And it also served to draw stings: it ensured the main issue got cloaked in unimportant wranglings.· In other cases, they met or even anticipated the claims, drawing their sting in advance.· A 12.5% dividend hike drew the sting from the results, and the shares fell just 5p to 233p.· Gassendi accepts them, but draws their sting.· Hall kept him moving and gradually drew the sting from his opponent's game.· Devoutness seems to have drawn the old satiric sting.· Voice over Coetzer must draw that sting to stand any chance of survival on Saturday.
· Walking from the taxi to his apartment, Ross had felt the sting and throb in his face for the first time.· Even ten years later, he felt the sting of the rebuke, the motive for which he still fails to understand.· We can smile, yet at the same time feel the sting of such a recognition of discrimination, intolerance and bigotry.· Only afterward, on the hike back to the parking lot, did I begin to feel the sting of Red Disaster.· Pivoting on the slow death fulcrum, he felt the hot sting of his own blood spilling from him.· She squeezed her eyes shut tightly, feeling the sting of tears behind her eyelids.· She felt a mild nettle sting.
· Not to want what couldn't be had no doubt took the sting from things.· Leaders also encourage creativity when they take the sting out of failure.· Middlesbrough, however, had taken the sting out of Leicester and were playing with more confidence and control at this stage.· Or you can take away the sting of an unsettling situation by overlaying it with positive associations.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1wound [countable] a wound or mark made when an insect or plant stings you: - An omelette of rumour, speculation and downright lies, with many a sting in the tail.
- And there was a sting in the tail, he warned finally.
- But there's a sting in the tail.
- My stories from Lesbos seemed to carry a sting in the tail for both cultures.
- Son, you really cut down to the quick.
- That's probably why she sent him - she knew it would cut him to the quick.
- The answer cut him to the quick.
a bee sting2insect [countable] British English the sharp needle-shaped part of an insect’s or animal’s body, with which it stings you SYN stinger American English3pain [singular] a sharp pain in your eyes or skin, caused by being hit, by smoke etc: She felt the sting of tears in her eyes.4a sting in the tail if a story, event, or announcement has a sting in its tail, there is an unpleasant part at the end of it5[singular] the upsetting or bad effect of a situation: the sting of rejectiontake the sting out of something (=make something less unpleasant or painful) She smiled to take the sting out of her words.6crime [countable] a clever way of catching criminals in which the police secretly pretend to be criminals themselves