- sting
- [[t]stɪ̱ŋ[/t]]
stings, stinging, stung1) VERB If a plant, animal, or insect stings you, a sharp part of it, usually covered with poison, is pushed into your skin so that you feel a sharp pain.
[V n] The nettles stung their legs...
[V n] I jumped as if I had been stung by a scorpion...
This type of bee rarely stings.
2) N-COUNT The sting of an insect or animal is the part that stings you.Remove the bee sting with tweezers.
3) N-COUNT: usu sing If you feel a sting, you feel a sharp pain in your skin or other part of your body.This won't hurt - you will just feel a little sting.
4) V-ERG If a part of your body stings, or if a substance stings it, you feel a sharp pain there.His cheeks were stinging from the icy wind...
Never put any essential oils near the eyes. They are very strong and could sting...
[V n] Sprays can sting sensitive skin.
5) VERB: no cont If someone's remarks sting you, they make you feel hurt and annoyed.[V n] He's a sensitive lad and some of the criticism has stung him...
[V-ed] She burst into tears, stung by the harshness of his words.
Syn:Derived words:6) N-COUNT: oft N n A sting is a clever secret plan carried out by the police in order to catch criminals.The police ran a sting operation to crack down on illegal guns.
...a sting set by the FBI.
7) PHRASE: usu PHR after v If an announcement or decision has a sting in the tail or a sting in its tail, it contains a critical and unpleasant part, normally at the end.8) PHRASE: V inflects If something takes the sting out of a situation, it makes it less unpleasant.
English dictionary. 2008.
