sting

Definitions

1. 1.(Bot.) A sharp-pointed hollow hair seated on a gland which secrets an acrid fluid, as in nettles. The points of these hairs usually break off in the wound, and the acrid fluid is pressed into it.
2. 2.Anything that gives acute pain, bodily or mental; as, the stings of remorse; the stings of reproach. The sting of death is sin. 1 Cor. xv.
3. 3.4. The thrust of a sting into the flesh; the act of stinging; a wound inflicted by stinging. "The lurking serpent's mortal sting." Shak.
4. 4.A goad; incitement. Shak.
5. 5.The point of an epigram or other sarcastic saying. Sting moth (Zoöl.), an Australian moth (Doratifera vulnerans) whose larva is armed, at each end of the body, with four tubercles bearing powerful stinging organs. -- Sting ray. (Zoöl.) See under 6th Ray. -- Sting winkle (Zoöl.), a spinose marine univalve shell of the genus Murex, as the European species (Murex erinaceus). See Illust. of Murex.
6. 6.To pierce or wound with a sting; as, bees will sting an animal that irritates them; the nettles stung his hands.
7. 7.To pain acutely; as, the conscience is stung with remorse; to bite. "Slander stings the brave." Pope.
8. 8.To goad; to incite, as by taunts or reproaches.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Synonyms

Related questions

• What does "sting" mean?
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Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is sting.

• What is a sharp-pointed hollow hair seated on a gland which secrets an acrid fluid, as in nettles. The points of these hairs usually break off in the wound, and the acrid fluid is pressed into it called?
• What is anything that gives acute pain, bodily or mental; as, the stings of remorse; the stings of reproach. The sting of death is sin. 1 Cor. xv called?
• What is 4. The thrust of a sting into the flesh; the act of stinging; a wound inflicted by stinging. "The lurking serpent's mortal sting." Shak called?
• What is to pierce or wound with a sting; as, bees will sting an animal that irritates them; the nettles stung his hands called?
• What is to pain acutely; as, the conscience is stung with remorse; to bite. "Slander stings the brave." Pope called?
• What is to goad; to incite, as by taunts or reproaches called?