needle

Etymology

From Middle English nedle, from Old English nǣdl, from Proto-West Germanic *nāþlu, from Proto-Germanic *nēþlō, from pre-Germanic *neh₁-tleh₂, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)neh₁- (“to spin, twist”). Cognates Cognate with Dutch naald (“needle”), German Nadel (“needle, pin, crochet hook”), German nähen (“sew”), Danish nål (“needle”), Norwegian nål (“needle”). Further related with Welsh nyddu, Latin nēre, Sanskrit स्नायति (snāyati, “wraps up, winds”). Related to snood.

noun

1. A long, thin, sharp implement usually for piercing">piercing as in sewing, embroidery, acupuncture, tattooing, body piercing">piercing, medical injections, sutures, etc; or a blunt but otherwise similar implement used for forming loops or knots in crafts such as darning, knitting, tatting, etc.
   The seamstress threaded the needle to sew on a button.
   reusable needles
   single-use needles
2. Any slender, pointed object resembling a needle, such as a pointed crystal, a sharp pinnacle of rock, an obelisk, etc.
3. A fine measurement indicator on a dial or graph.
   a compass needle
   The needle on the fuel gauge pointed to empty.
4. (informal) A sensor for playing phonograph records, a phonograph stylus.
   Ziggy bought some diamond needles for his hi-fi phonograph.
5. A needle-like leaf found on some conifers.
   At the very moment he cried out, David realised that what he had run into was only the Christmas tree. Disgusted with himself at such cowardice, he spat a needle from his mouth. 1994, Stephen Fry, chapter 2, in The Hippopotamus
6. A strong beam resting on props, used as a temporary support during building repairs.
7. (informal, usually preceded by the) The death penalty carried out by lethal injection.
8. (programming) A text string that is searched for within another string. (see: needle in a haystack)
   Both of these functions will look through the haystack for the specified needle and, if they find it, will return the portion of the string from the beginning of the needle to the end of the haystack. 2010, Peter MacIntyre, PHP: The Good Parts, page 39
9. (entomology) Any of various species of damselfly of the genus Synlestes, endemic to Australia.

verb

1. To pierce with a needle, especially for sewing or acupuncture.
   […]the eyes were once more beginning to show the old nystagmus; so I decided to needle the cataracts, and on Jan. 31 I needled the right eye. 1892, H. Lindo Ferguson, “Operation on Microphthamlmic Eyes”, in Ophthalmic Review, volume 11, page 48
   Possibly the greatest effect is achieved in the hand by needling the thumb, the index finger and the region of the 1st and 2nd metacarpal. 2000, Felix Mann, Reinventing Acupuncture, page 109
2. (transitive) To tease in order to provoke; to poke fun at.
   Billy needled his sister incessantly about her pimples.
   FRED: Well, I teased her to some extent, or I needled her, not teased her. I needled her about—first I said that she didn't want to work, and then I think that there were a couple of comments. 1984, Leopold Caligor, Philip M. Bromberg, James D. Meltzer, Clinical Perspectives on the Supervision of Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, page 14
   To needle Lady Leviathan, Hel has convinced her husband to agree to the heartful offer. 2015, Carl Gleba, “Megaverse in Flames”, in Rifts World Book 35
   Significantly, similar language was used by Sullivan, who had been needled by a question from a Ukrainian activist who suggested the US was “afraid of Ukraine winning”. 2023-07-12, Dan Sabbagh, “Zelenskiy forced to recalibrate to avert Nato summit falling-out”, in The Guardian, →ISSN
3. (transitive, intransitive) To form, or be formed, in the shape of a needle.
   to needle crystals