Entry Word: needle

Function: noun

Meaning: 1 a slender hollow instrument by which material is put into or taken from the body through the skin <the nurse inserted the needle into his vein and collected some blood for testing>

Synonyms hypodermic, hypodermic needle, hypodermic syringe, syringe

2 an arrow-shaped piece on a dial or scale for registering information <simply by reading the compass needle you should be able to figure out in which direction we're heading> — see pointer 1