NEEDLE

I. noun Etymology: Middle English nedle, from Old English nǣdl; akin to Old High German nādala ~, nājan to sew, Latin nēre to spin, Greek nēn Date: before 12th century 1. a small slender usually steel instrument that has an eye for thread or surgical sutures at one end and that is used for sewing, any of various devices for carrying thread and making stitches (as in crocheting or knitting), c. a slender hollow instrument for introducing material into or removing material from the body (as by insertion under the skin), any of various slender hollow devices used to introduce matter (as air) into or remove it from an object (as a ball), 2. a slender bar of magnetized steel that when allowed to turn freely (as in a compass) indicates the direction of a magnetic field (as of the earth), a slender usually sharp-pointed indicator on a dial, 3. a slender pointed object resembling a ~: as, a pointed crystal, a sharp rock, obelisk , a ~-shaped leaf (as of a conifer), a slender rod (as of jewel or steel) with a rounded tip used in a phonograph to transmit vibrations from a record ; stylus , a slender pointed rod controlling a fine inlet or outlet (as in a valve), a teasing or gibing remark, ~like adjective II. verb (~d; needling) Date: circa 1715 transitive verb to sew or pierce with or as if with a ~, 2. tease , torment , to incite to action by repeated gibes , intransitive verb sew , embroider , ~r noun