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Needle

Noun CEFR B2 Frequent
ˈniː.dl̩

Definitions

  1. A long, thin, sharp implement usually for piercing as in sewing, embroidery, acupuncture, tattooing, body piercing, medical injections, sutures, etc; or a blunt but otherwise similar implement used for forming loops or knots in crafts such as darning, knitting, tatting, etc.
  2. A surname.
  3. Any slender, pointed object resembling a needle, such as a pointed crystal, a sharp pinnacle of rock, an obelisk, etc.
  4. A fine measurement indicator on a dial or graph.
  5. A sensor for playing phonograph records, a phonograph stylus.
  6. A needle-like leaf found on some conifers.
  7. A strong beam resting on props, used as a temporary support during building repairs.
  8. The death penalty carried out by lethal injection.
  9. A text string that is searched for within another string. (see: needle in a haystack)
  10. Any of various species of damselfly of the genus Synlestes, endemic to Australia.
  11. A move in which the performer begins with two hands and one leg on the floor, then kicks the other leg into a full split.

Equivalents

80 more languages
Afrikaansnaald
አማርኛመርፌ
Azərbaycan diliiynəqıyıq
Беларускаяігла́іголка
Българскииглашия
བོད་སྐད།ཁབ
Catalàagulla
Cymraegnodwydd
Dansknål
Euskaraorratz
فارسیسوزن
Gaeilgesnáthaid
Gàidhligsnàthad
Galegoagullaarumefroumapoma
ગુજરાતીસોય
Hausaallura
עבריתמחט
Հայերենասեղփուշ
Bahasa Indonesiadomjarum
Íslenskanál
日本語指針針葉
ქართულინემსი
Қазақ тіліине
ភាសាខ្មែរម្ជុល
ಕನ್ನಡಸೂಜಿ
한국어니들바늘침엽
KurdîdomnalTongatu
Кыргызчаийне
Lingálantongatonga
ລາວເຂັມ
Lietuviųadataspyglys
Latviešuadataskuja
Te Reo Māorihakirarauhi
Македонскиигла
Монголзүүтэвнэ
मराठीसुई
Bahasa Melayujarum
Maltilabra
မြန်မာအပ်
ଓଡ଼ିଆସୂଚୀ
ਪੰਜਾਬੀਸੂਈ
پښتوستن
Portuguêsagulha
Românăacandrea
සිංහලකටුව
Slovenčinaihla
Slovenščinaiglaiglica
Svenskabarrnålstickasynål
Kiswahilisindano
தமிழ்ஊசி
తెలుగుసూది
ไทยเข็ม
ትግርኛመርፍእ
Türkmençeiňňe
Tagalogkarayom
ئۇيغۇرچەيىڭنە
اردوسوئی
Tiếng Việtkimkim tiêm
Yorùbáabẹrẹ

Examples

The seamstress threaded the needle to sew on a button.”
reusable needles
single-use needles
“a compass needle
The needle on the fuel gauge pointed to empty.”
“"[…] On the 18th of October, 1841, a very intense magnetic disturbance was recorded, and amongst other curious facts mentioned is that of the detention of the 10:05pm express train at Exeter for 16 minutes, as from the magnetic disturbance affecting the needles so powerfully, it was impossible to ascertain if the line was clear at Starcross. The superintendent at Exeter reported the next morning that someone was playing tricks with the instruments, and would not let them work."”
Ziggy bought some diamond needles for his hi-fi phonograph.”
“At the very moment he cried out, David realised that what he had run into was only the Christmas tree. Disgusted with himself at such cowardice, he spat a needle from his mouth.”
Both of these functions will look through the haystack for the specified needle and, if they find it, will return the portion of the string from the beginning of the needle to the end of the haystack.”

CEFR level

B2
Upper Intermediate
This word is part of the CEFR B2 vocabulary — upper intermediate level.
See all B2 English words →

See also

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