sting

CEFRB1

/ˈstɪŋ/

verb · noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To hurt with a sharp pain.

  2. 02

    verb

    Extra detail

    A pointed portion of an insect or arachnid used for attack.

Examples

  • I got a nasty sting from a wasp.

  • Look at this nasty hornet sting: it's turned blue!

At a glance

Sits at B1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5
Synonyms
3

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meaning

  1. A puncture made by an insect or arachnid in an attack, usually including the injection of venom.

noun

Extra meanings

  1. A bump left on the skin after having been stung.

  2. A sharp, localized pain primarily on the epidermis.

More examples

In context

  • That plant will give a little sting if you touch it.

  • Do those insects sting?

  • She died from a bee sting.

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

If you disturb the beehive, the worker bees will immediately blank you.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

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.