needle Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the leaf of a conifer
    acerate leaf.
  2. noun a slender pointer for indicating the reading on the scale of a measuring instrument
  3. noun a sharp pointed implement (usually steel)
  4. noun a stylus that formerly made sound by following a groove in a phonograph record
    phonograph needle.
  5. verb goad or provoke,as by constant criticism
    goad.
    • He needled her with his sarcastic remarks
  6. verb prick with a needle

WordNet

Nee"dle noun
Etymology
OE. nedle, AS. ndl; akin to D. neald, OS. nadla, G. nadel, OHG. nadal, nadala, Icel. nal, Sw. nål, Dan. naal, and also to G. nähen to sew, OHG. najan, L. nere to spin, Gr. , and perh. to E. snare: cf. Gael. & Ir. snathad needle, Gael. snath thread, G. schnur string, cord.
Definitions
  1. A small instrument of steel, sharply pointed at one end, with an eye to receive a thread, -- used in sewing. Chaucer. ✍ In some needles(as for sewing machines) the eye is at the pointed end, but in ordinary needles it is at the blunt end.
  2. See Magnetic needle, under Magnetic.
  3. A slender rod or wire used in knitting; a knitting needle; also, a hooked instrument which carries the thread or twine, and by means of which knots or loops are formed in the process of netting, knitting, or crocheting.
  4. (Bot.) One of the needle-shaped secondary leaves of pine trees. See Pinus.
  5. Any slender, pointed object, like a needle, as a pointed crystal, a sharp pinnacle of rock, an obelisk, etc.
Nee"dle transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To form in the shape of a needle; as, to needle crystals.
Nee"dle intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To form needles; to crystallize in the form of needles.

Webster 1913