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| sting [ sting ] |
verb (past and past participle stung [ stung ], present participle sting·ing, 3rd person present singular stings) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb inject somebody with toxin: to prick somebody's skin and inject a small quantity of a poisonous or irritant substance, causing a sharp pain that is often followed by itchiness and swelling
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2. transitive and intransitive verb feel or cause sharp pain: to feel a sharp pain, usually only for a short period of time, or make somebody do this
  His eyes were stinging from the onions.
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3. transitive verb upset somebody: to make somebody feel upset, hurt, or annoyed
I was stung by her harsh criticisms.
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4. transitive verb goad somebody: to urge somebody on, usually with criticism
words that stung them into action
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noun (plural stings) |
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| Definition: |
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1. wound caused by sting: a skin wound that may hurt, swell up, and itch, caused by an insect, plant, or animal piercing the skin and injecting a small quantity of a poisonous or irritant substance
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2. U.K. zoology
Same as stinger1 (sense 2)
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3. sharp pain: a short sharp pain, e.g. that caused by the application of an antiseptic to a fresh wound
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4. hurtful quality: the hurtful nature of something such as criticism
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5. power to upset: the power to inflict mental or emotional discomfort
threats that have lost their sting
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6. botany
Same as stinging hair
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7. crime police undercover operation: a complex undercover operation to catch criminals
(
slang
)
(
often used before a noun
)
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8. orchestrated swindle: an underhanded scheme, especially a carefully planned and orchestrated swindle
(
slang
)
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| [ Old English stingan< Germanic] |
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| sting·ing·ly adverb |
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