sting
noun
- short percussion sequence accompanying a joke
- short musical phrase
- act of stinging, as a bee, causing sharp pain
- covert police operation
verb
- sting, as a bee, causing sharp pain
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈstɪŋ/ / /ˈstɪŋɡ/
noun
Etymology: From Middle English styng, sting, stynge, stenge, from Old English sting, stincg (“a sting, stab, thrust made with a pointed instrument; the wound made by a stab or sting”), from Proto-Germanic *stingaz; possibly also from Old English stynġ, from Proto-Germanic *stungiz.
- A bump left on the skin after having been stung.
“Look at this nasty hornet sting: it's turned blue!”
- A puncture made by an insect or arachnid in an attack, usually including the injection of venom.
“She died from a bee sting.”
- A pointed portion of an insect or arachnid used for attack.
- A sharp, localized pain primarily on the epidermis.
“That plant will give a little sting if you touch it.”
- A sharp-pointed hollow hair seated on a gland which secretes an acrid fluid, as in nettles.
- The thrust of a sting into the flesh; the act of stinging; a wound inflicted by stinging.
“the lurking serpent's mortal sting”
- A police operation in which the police pretend to engage in criminal activity in order to catch a criminal.
“The criminal gang was caught after a successful sting.”
“Shepard: I'm taking you in, Jax. Turian Bodyguard: It's a sting. Bastard set us up. Jax: What the hell are you playing at?”
- A short percussive phrase played by a drummer to accent the punchline in a comedy show.
- A brief sequence of music used in films, TV, and video games as a form of scenic punctuation or to identify the broadcasting station.
- A support for a wind tunnel model which extends parallel to the air flow.
“The balance is mounted externally on top of the wind tunnel test section. A sting connects the balance to the model.”
- The harmful or painful part of something.
“The ſting of death is ſinne, […]”
“Better is 20 R-R5, threatening 21 KR-R1. This action would compel exchanges and reduce the sting of Black's attack.”
- A goad; incitement.
“O most potential love! vow, bond, nor space, / In thee hath neither sting, knot, nor confine”
- The concluding point of an epigram or other sarcastic saying.
verb
Etymology: From Middle English stingen, from Old English stingan, from Proto-Germanic *stinganą. Compare Swedish and Icelandic stinga.
- To hurt, usually by introducing poison or a sharp point, or both.
- To puncture with the stinger.
“A mosquito stung me on the arm.”
- To hurt, to be in pain (physically or emotionally).
“My eyes are stinging from the chopped onions.”
“My hand stings after knocking on the door so long.”
- To cause harm or pain to.
“I thought I could park in front of the hotel, but they stung me for five pounds!”