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
IEEE Spectrum, 31 Mar. 2024
The visuals are impressive, as are the plentiful needle drops.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024
Synthetic insulin, the new study finds, can be made for about $11 for a box of 5 pens, including the cost of the needle and a 10% profit.
—Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 29 Mar. 2024
But the drugs that do this are typically administered intravenously—fed into the blood using needles, in a long and invasive process.
—Grace Browne, WIRED, 27 Mar. 2024
The basic skincare regimen already moves the needle in terms of your skin’s health.
—Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 25 Mar. 2024
Grab a plastic child-safe tapestry needle and thread it with colored yarn, knotting the end to secure it.
—Nicole Harris, Parents, 20 Mar. 2024
The soaring sharp needle of sung and played notes that tear us asunder and stitch us back together.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 22 Mar. 2024
Using the embroidery thread and needle, make a few stitches through each glove and knot the thread ends inside the helmet.
—Kimberly Stoney, Parents, 21 Mar. 2024
Peter Baker, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024
Over the weekend, Minaj continued to tout her upcoming song while needling an unnamed woman, presumably Megan, in a series of tweets that accused her of using a ghost writer and allowing her best friend to be bullied, among other things.
—Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 29 Jan. 2024
Ted and Larry are friends who don’t like each other very much, and Ted never misses a chance to needle Larry.
—Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024
The first line of the concurrence appeared to be intended to needle Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., who was probably a principal author of the unsigned majority opinion.
—Adam Liptak, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2024
State health officials since the raid have halted payments to needle exchange providers and launched an investigation at the direction of Gov. Brad Little.
—Ian Max Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 22 Feb. 2024
The work argues for collaborative social practices, while needling technological determinism.
—Julia Couzens, Sacramento Bee, 30 Jan. 2024
Whether deployed by politicians or entertainers, comedy’s power is to needle deep into the subconscious, forming an emotional bond that transcends reason.
—Seth Simons, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2024
As with Isong, Iris’ politely needling interrogation of Wonju yields poignant memories of family and childhood, though Iris returns these with her own melancholic reflections on mortality.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 19 Feb. 2024
Noun
The auditor doesn’t read specific measurements on the meter but rather interprets the needle’s movement as the preclear responds to the questions.
—IEEE Spectrum, 31 Mar. 2024
The visuals are impressive, as are the plentiful needle drops.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024
Synthetic insulin, the new study finds, can be made for about $11 for a box of 5 pens, including the cost of the needle and a 10% profit.
—Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 29 Mar. 2024
But the drugs that do this are typically administered intravenously—fed into the blood using needles, in a long and invasive process.
—Grace Browne, WIRED, 27 Mar. 2024
The basic skincare regimen already moves the needle in terms of your skin’s health.
—Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 25 Mar. 2024
Grab a plastic child-safe tapestry needle and thread it with colored yarn, knotting the end to secure it.
—Nicole Harris, Parents, 20 Mar. 2024
The soaring sharp needle of sung and played notes that tear us asunder and stitch us back together.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 22 Mar. 2024
Using the embroidery thread and needle, make a few stitches through each glove and knot the thread ends inside the helmet.
—Kimberly Stoney, Parents, 21 Mar. 2024
Verb
In his letter on Friday, Mr. Siskel needled the House G.O.P. majority over its problems with impeachment.
—Peter Baker, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024
Over the weekend, Minaj continued to tout her upcoming song while needling an unnamed woman, presumably Megan, in a series of tweets that accused her of using a ghost writer and allowing her best friend to be bullied, among other things.
—Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 29 Jan. 2024
Ted and Larry are friends who don’t like each other very much, and Ted never misses a chance to needle Larry.
—Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024
The first line of the concurrence appeared to be intended to needle Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., who was probably a principal author of the unsigned majority opinion.
—Adam Liptak, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2024
State health officials since the raid have halted payments to needle exchange providers and launched an investigation at the direction of Gov. Brad Little.
—Ian Max Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 22 Feb. 2024
The work argues for collaborative social practices, while needling technological determinism.
—Julia Couzens, Sacramento Bee, 30 Jan. 2024
Whether deployed by politicians or entertainers, comedy’s power is to needle deep into the subconscious, forming an emotional bond that transcends reason.
—Seth Simons, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2024
As with Isong, Iris’ politely needling interrogation of Wonju yields poignant memories of family and childhood, though Iris returns these with her own melancholic reflections on mortality.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 19 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'needle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English nedle, from Old English nǣdl; akin to Old High German nādala needle, nājan to sew, Latin nēre to spin, Greek nēn
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
circa 1715, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of needle was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing needle
Dictionary Entries Near needle
Cite this Entry
“Needle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/needle. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids 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
More from Merriam-Webster on needle
Nglish: Translation of needle for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of needle for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about needle
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share