A long, thin, sharp implement usually for piercing as in sewing, embroidery, acupuncture, tattooing, body 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
1 more example
single-use needles
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Any slender, pointed object resembling a needle, such as a pointed crystal, a sharp pinnacle of rock, an obelisk, etc.
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A fine measurement indicator on a dial or graph.
a compass needle
The needle on the fuel gauge pointed to empty.
1 more example
"[…] On the 18th of October, 1841, a very intense magnetic disturbance was recorded, and amongst other curious facts mentioned is that of the detention of the 10:05pm express train at Exeter for 16 minutes, as from the magnetic disturbance affecting the needles so powerfully, it was impossible to ascertain if the line was clear at Starcross. The superintendent at Exeter reported the next morning that someone was playing tricks with the instruments, and would not let them work."2023 November 15, Prof. Jim Wild, “This train was delayed because of bad weather in space”, in RAIL, number 996, page 30:
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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:
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A strong beam resting on props, used as a temporary support during building repairs.
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Informal The death penalty carried out by lethal injection.
Usually preceded by the
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Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Programming, Sciences 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:
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Biology, Entomology, Natural sciences Any of various species of damselfly of the genus Synlestes, endemic to Australia.
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Gymnastics, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports A move in which the performer begins with two hands and one leg on the floor, then kicks the other leg into a full split.
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 Saterland Frisian Näddele (“sewing needle”), Dutch naald (“needle”), German Nadel (“needle, pin, crochet hook”), nähen (“sew”), Luxembourgish Nol (“needle”), Vilamovian nöłd (“needle”), Yiddish נאָדל (nodl, “needle, pin”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, Swedish nål (“needle”), Elfdalian ną̊l (“needle”), Faroese, Icelandic nál (“needle”), Gothic 𐌽𐌴𐌸𐌻𐌰 (nēþla, “sewing needle”), Finnish neula (“needle”). Further related with Welsh nyddu, Latin nēre, Sanskrit स्नायति (snāyati, “wraps up, winds”). Related to snood.
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
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:
2 more examples
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 July 12, Dan Sabbagh, “Zelenskiy forced to recalibrate to avert Nato summit falling-out”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
3
Ambitransitive To form, or be formed, in the shape of a needle.