n. & v.
--n.
1. a sharp often poisonous wounding organ of an insect, snake, nettle, etc.
2 a the act of inflicting a wound with this. b the wound itself or the pain caused by it.
3 a wounding or painful quality or effect (the sting of hunger; stings of remorse).
4 pungency, sharpness, vigour (a sting in the voice).
5 sl. a swindle or robbery.
--v. (past and past part. stung)
1. a tr. wound or pierce with a sting. b intr. be able to sting; have a sting.
2 intr. & tr. feel or cause to feel a tingling physical or sharp mental pain.
3 tr. (foll. by into) incite by a strong or painful mental effect (was stung into replying).
4 tr. sl. swindle or charge exorbitantly.
Phrases and idioms:
stinging-nettle a nettle, Urtica dioica, having stinging hairs. sting in the tail unexpected pain or difficulty at the end.
Derivatives:
stingingly adv. stingless adj. stinglike adj.
Etymology: OE sting (n.), stingan (v.), f. Gmc