释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024nee•dle /ˈnidəl/USA pronunciation n., v., -dled, -dling. n. [countable] - a small, rodlike instrument, usually of steel, with a sharp point at one end and a hole for thread at the other end, used for passing thread through cloth to make stitches in sewing.
- Clothingany of various related, usually larger, instruments for making stitches, as a knitting needle.
- Medicinea hypodermic needle.
- any long, thin, pointed object that resembles a needle, as a stylus used in engraving and etching, or a thin leaf of a pine tree.
- the needle, [singular][Informal.]teasing remarks:They gave him the needle after he tripped over his girlfriend's feet while dancing.
v. [~ + object] - to sew or pierce with or as if with a needle.
- Informal Terms
- to prod or persuade (someone) to a certain action:We needled her into going with us.
- to tease;
make fun of:His friends needled him about his bad driving.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024nee•dle (nēd′l),USA pronunciation n., v., -dled, -dling. n. - a small, slender, rodlike instrument, usually of polished steel, with a sharp point at one end and an eye or hole for thread at the other, for passing thread through cloth to make stitches in sewing.
- any of various similar, usually considerably larger, implements for making stitches, as one for use in knitting or one hooked at the end for use in crocheting.
- Medicine
- a slender, pointed, steel instrument used in sewing or piercing tissues, as in suturing.
- See hypodermic needle.
- Informal Termsan injection of a drug or medicine;
shot. - any of various objects resembling or suggesting a needle.
- Sound Reproductionthe tapered stylus at the end of a phonographic tonearm, used to transmit vibrations from a record groove to a transducer for conversion to audible signals.
- ElectricitySee magnetic needle.
- a pointed instrument, or stylus, used in engraving, etching, or the like.
- Botanya needle-shaped leaf, as of a conifer:a pine needle.
- Zoologya slender sharp spicule.
- Mineralogy, Chemistry[Chem., Mineral.]a needlelike crystal.
- a sharp-pointed mass or pinnacle of rock.
- an obelisk or a tapering, four-sided shaft of stone:Cleopatra's Needle.
- BuildingAlso called nee′dle beam′. a short beam passed through a wall as a temporary support.
- Slang Terms, Idioms on the needle, taking drugs by injection, esp. habitually.
- Idioms the needle, [Informal.]irritating abuse;
teasing; heckling (used esp. in the phrases give someone the needle and get the needle). v.t. - to sew or pierce with or as if with a needle:to needle a patch on a sleeve.
- Informal Terms
- to prod or goad (someone) to a specified action:We needled her into going with us.
- to tease:We needled him about his big ears.
- Slang Termsto add alcohol or ether to (a beverage):to needle beer.
v.i. - to form needles in crystallization.
- to work with a needle.
- bef. 900; 1880–85 for def. 18; Middle English nedle, Old English nǣdl, cognate with German Nadel; akin to Latin nēre to spin
nee′dle•like′, adj. |