sting

noun
/ˈstɪŋ/

Etymology

From Middle English styng, sting, stynge, stenge, from Old English sting, stincg (“a sting, stab, thrust made with a pointed instrument; the wound made by a stab or sting”), from Proto-Germanic *stingaz; possibly also from Old English stynġ, from Proto-Germanic *stungiz.

  1. inherited from *stungiz
  2. inherited from stynġ
  3. inherited from *stingaz
  4. inherited from sting
  5. inherited from styng

Definitions

  1. A bump left on the skin after having been stung.

    • Look at this nasty hornet sting: it's turned blue!
  2. A puncture made by an insect or arachnid in an attack, usually including the injection of…

    A puncture made by an insect or arachnid in an attack, usually including the injection of venom.

    • She died from a bee sting.
  3. A pointed portion of an insect or arachnid used for attack.

  4. + 16 more definitions
    1. A sharp, localized pain primarily on the epidermis.

      • That plant will give a little sting if you touch it.
    2. A sharp-pointed hollow hair seated on a gland which secretes an acrid fluid, as in…

      A sharp-pointed hollow hair seated on a gland which secretes an acrid fluid, as in nettles.

    3. The thrust of a sting into the flesh

      The thrust of a sting into the flesh; the act of stinging; a wound inflicted by stinging.

      • the lurking serpent's mortal sting
    4. A police operation in which the police pretend to engage in criminal activity in order to…

      A police operation in which the police pretend to engage in criminal activity in order to catch a criminal.

      • The criminal gang was caught after a successful sting.
      • Shepard: I'm taking you in, Jax. Turian Bodyguard: It's a sting. Bastard set us up. Jax: What the hell are you playing at?
    5. A short percussive phrase played by a drummer to accent the punchline in a comedy show.

    6. A brief sequence of music used in films, TV, and video games as a form of scenic…

      A brief sequence of music used in films, TV, and video games as a form of scenic punctuation or to identify the broadcasting station.

    7. A support for a wind tunnel model which extends parallel to the air flow.

      • The balance is mounted externally on top of the wind tunnel test section. A sting connects the balance to the model.
    8. The harmful or painful part of something.

      • The ſting of death is ſinne, […]
      • Better is 20 R-R5, threatening 21 KR-R1. This action would compel exchanges and reduce the sting of Black's attack.
    9. A goad

      A goad; incitement.

      • O most potential love! vow, bond, nor space, / In thee hath neither sting, knot, nor confine
    10. The concluding point of an epigram or other sarcastic saying.

    11. To hurt, usually by introducing poison or a sharp point, or both.

    12. To puncture with the stinger.

      • A mosquito stung me on the arm.
    13. To hurt, to be in pain (physically or emotionally).

      • My eyes are stinging from the chopped onions.
      • My hand stings after knocking on the door so long.
      • Still, it stung when a slightly older acquaintance asked me why I couldn't do any better.
    14. To cause harm or pain to.

      • I thought I could park in front of the hotel, but they stung me for five pounds!
    15. Storytelling in the context of a tabletop role-playing game, especially one published by…

      Storytelling in the context of a tabletop role-playing game, especially one published by White Wolf.

    16. present participle and gerund of ST

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

A definitional loop anchored at sting. Each word in the ring is defined by the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself. Scroll to it and watch.

01sting02bump03protuberance04swelling05passion06fervor07heat08spice09pungent10stings

A definitional loop anchored at sting. Each word in the ring appears in the definition of the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself.

10 hops · closes at sting

curated · pre-corpus. live cycle detection across the full graph is the next major milestone.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA