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Definition of needle

needle

/ˈniː.dəl/
nee · dle

Plural:needles
•
Past Simple:needled
•
Past Participle:needled
•
Present Participle:needling
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needle Lexical Profile

needle Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A small, slender piece of polished metal with a sharp point at one end and a hole or eye at the other, used for sewing.

Example

"She carefully threaded the needle to mend the small tear in her favorite jacket."


2

A fine, hollow tube attached to a syringe, used in medicine for injecting substances into or extracting fluids from the body.

Example

"The nurse used a sterile needle to draw a blood sample for the laboratory tests."


3

The long, narrow, stiff leaf of a conifer tree, such as a pine or fir.

Example

"The forest floor was softly cushioned by a thick layer of dry pine needles."

• verb

1

To tease, provoke, or annoy (someone) persistently, often with minor criticisms or taunts.

Example

"His older brother always found a way to needle him about his lack of athletic ability."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for needle

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'nǣdl', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'naald' and German 'Nadel', stemming from an Indo-European root meaning 'to sew'.

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Needle. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/needle
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