sting

/stɪŋ/ v [I/T] (past tense and past participle stung /stʌŋ/) (HURT)

Definition

› (esp. of insects, plants, and animals) to produce a small but painful injury by making a very small hole in the skin: [I] Why do bees sting? › If something stings, it causes you to feel pain: [T] Cold air stung Jack’s lungs. [I] The soap made his eyes sting. › If someone’s remarks sting you, they make you feel upset and annoyed: [T] Managers were stung by criticism from environmentalists.

(Definition of sting v (HURT) from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)