Illustration of needle
- 1 suture
- 2 sewing
- 3 knitting
1
a
: a small slender usually steel instrument that has an eye for thread or surgical sutures at one end and that is used for sewing
b
: any of various devices for carrying thread and making stitches (as in crocheting or knitting)
c(1)
: a slender hollow instrument for introducing material into or removing material from the body (as by insertion under the skin)
(2)
: an extremely thin solid usually stainless steel instrument used in acupuncture and inserted through the skin
d
: any of various slender hollow devices used to introduce matter (such as air) into or remove it from an object (such as a ball)
2
a
: a slender bar of magnetized steel that when allowed to turn freely (as in a compass) indicates the direction of a magnetic field (as of the earth)
b
: a slender usually sharp-pointed indicator on a dial
3
a
: a slender pointed object resembling a needle: such as
(1)
: a pointed crystal
(2)
: a sharp rock
(3)
: obelisk
b
: a needle-shaped leaf (as of a conifer)
c
: a slender rod (as of jewel or steel) with a rounded tip used in a phonograph to transmit vibrations from a record : stylus
d
: a slender pointed rod controlling a fine inlet or outlet (as in a valve)
4
: a teasing or gibing remark
Synonyms
Examples of needle in a Sentence
Noun
I need a needle and thread to sew the button on your shirt.
The needle on the scale points to 9 grams.
The compass needle points north.
Verb
His classmates needled him about his new haircut.
we needled him mercilessly for thinking that he had any chance of being the prom date for the school's most popular girl
Recent Examples on the Web
Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 9 Nov. 2024
Something like The New York Times needle is a much better product.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024
Hope King, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024
Who is Tony Hinchcliffe? Hinchcliffe, raised in Youngstown, Ohio, is a stand-up comedian who specializes in the roast style, in which comedians take the podium to needle a celebrity victim with personal and often tasteless jokes.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for needle 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
This nifty gadget uses cutting-edge optical technology to create a 3D map of your veins, making needle insertion a breeze.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 9 Nov. 2024
Something like The New York Times needle is a much better product.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024
Verb
The big picture: The billionaires have been needling each other over their respective space ambitions for about two decades.
—Hope King, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024
Who is Tony Hinchcliffe? Hinchcliffe, raised in Youngstown, Ohio, is a stand-up comedian who specializes in the roast style, in which comedians take the podium to needle a celebrity victim with personal and often tasteless jokes.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for needle
Dictionary Entries Near needle
Cite this Entry
“Needle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/needle. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
needle
1 of 2 noun
nee·dle
ˈnēd-ᵊl 
1
a
: a small slender usually steel instrument that has an eye for thread or surgical sutures at one end and is used for sewing
b
: any of various devices for carrying thread and making stitches (as in crocheting or knitting)
c
: a slender hollow usually stainless steel instrument by which material is put into or taken from the body through the skin
d
: an extremely thin solid usually stainless steel instrument used in acupuncture and inserted through the skin
2
a
: a slender bar of magnetized steel that is free to turn (as in a compass) to show the direction of a magnetic field
b
: a slender pointer on a dial
3
a
: a slender pointed object (as a pointed crystal or an obelisk)
b
: a leaf (as of a pine) shaped like a needle
4
: a slender piece of jewel or steel with a rounded tip used in a phonograph to transmit vibrations from the record
needle
2 of 2 verb
needled; needling
ˈnēd-liŋ
-ᵊl-iŋ
2
: to cause to take action by repeated stinging remarks
Medical Definition
needle
1 of 2 noun
nee·dle
ˈnēd-ᵊl
1
: a small slender usually steel instrument designed to carry sutures when sewing tissues in surgery
2
: a slender hollow instrument for introducing material into or removing material from the body parenterally
needle
2 of 2 transitive verb
needled; needling
ˈnēd-liŋ, -ᵊl-iŋ
: to puncture, operate on, or inject with a needle
needling a cataract
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share