Definition of “needle” - English Dictionary

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“needle” in English

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needlenoun [ C ]

uk ​ /ˈniː.dəl/ us ​ /ˈniː.dəl/

needle noun [ C ] (SEWING TOOL)

B2 a thin metal pin, used in sewing, that is pointed at one end and has a hole called an eye at the other end for thread:

a needle and thread
Here, your eyes are better than mine - could you thread (= put thread through) this needle for me?
See also
needlework

› a knitting needle

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Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Idiom(s)

a needle in a haystack

needleverb [ T ]

uk ​ /ˈniː.dəl/ us ​ /ˈniː.dəl/ informal

(Definition of “needle” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“needle” in American English

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needlenoun [ C ]

us ​ /ˈni·dəl/

needle noun [ C ] (TOOL)

› a thin, solid, metal piece with a sharp point at one end, esp. one used for sewing that has a hole to hold thread:

Can you thread this needle for me?

› A needle is also a small stick with a point or hook, used to make stitches:

knitting needles

› A needle is also a thin metal tube with a sharp, pointed end, used to put a liquid, such as a medicine, into the body or to remove a liquid, such as blood, from the body.

needle noun [ C ] (POINTER)

› the thin, moving part on a compass (= device for finding direction) or measuring instrument that points in a particular direction or to a particular value

needle noun [ C ] (LEAF)

› one of the thin, stiff, green leaves of some evergreen trees:

pine needles

needleverb [ T ]

us ​ /ˈni·dəl/ infml

needle verb [ T ] (ANNOY)

› to purposely annoy someone by making critical remarks or jokes:

I hate to be needled about my weight.

(Definition of “needle” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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