sting - What does it mean?
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Definition of 'sting'English
Etymology 1
From (etyl) .
Noun
( en-noun)
A bump left on the skin after having been stung.
A bite by an insect.
A pointed portion of an insect or arachnid used for attack.
A sharp, localised pain primarily on the epidermis
(botany) A sharp-pointed hollow hair seated on a gland which secretes an acrid fluid, as in nettles.
The thrust of a sting into the flesh; the act of stinging; a wound inflicted by stinging.
* Shakespeare
- the lurking serpent's mortal sting
(law enforcement) A police operation in which the police pretend to be criminals in order to catch a criminal.
A short percussive phrase played by a drummer to accent the punchline in a comedy show.
A brief sequence of music used in films, TV as a form of punctuation in a dramatic or comedic scene. In certain videogames stings are used to predict immediate future actions or to illustrate a current tension or mood.
A support for a wind tunnel model which extends parallel to the air flow.
*
(figurative) The harmful or painful part of something.
* Bible, 1 Corinthians xv. 56
- The sting of death is sin.
* {{quote-news
|year=2011
|date=January 19
|author=Jonathan Stevenson
|title=Leeds 1 - 3 Arsenal
|work=BBC
citation
|page=
|passage=Just as it appeared Arsenal had taken the sting out of the tie, Johnson produced a moment of outrageous quality, thundering a bullet of a left foot shot out of the blue and into the top left-hand corner of Wojciech Szczesny's net with the Pole grasping at thin air. }}
A goad; incitement.
- (Shakespeare)
The point of an epigram or other sarcastic saying.
Synonyms
* (pointed portion of an insect) stinger
Etymology 2
From (etyl) stingen, from (etyl) . Compare Swedish and Icelandic stinga.
Verb
To hurt, usually by introducing poison or a sharp point, or both.
- Right so came out an adder of a little heathbush, and it stung a knight in the foot.
- Still, it stung when a slightly older acquaintance asked me why I couldn't do any better.
(of an insect) To bite.
(sometimes figurative) To hurt, to be in pain.
- My hand stings after knocking on the door so long.
* {{quote-news
|year=2011
|date=January 11
|author=Jonathan Stevenson
|title=West Ham 2 - 1 Birmingham
|work=BBC
citation
|page=
|passage=But Birmingham were clearly stung by some harsh words from manager Alex McLeish at the break and within 15 minutes of the restart the game had an entirely different complexion.}}
(figurative) To cause harm or pain to.
- I thought I could park in front of the hotel, but they stung me for five pounds!
Derived terms
* sting like a bee
* stingy
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