needling
needling — verb
- needlingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- needlings3rd person singular
- needlinging-ing form
- needlingedpast simple
1. to keep annoying or upsetting someone by saying things that bother them, often o
to keep annoying or upsetting someone by saying things that bother them, often over a long period, with the aim of making them react
The kids kept needling their older brother about his new haircut until he left the room.
needle + someone + about + topic
Valentina's colleagues needle her every day about her quiet voice.
ongoing action: every day
Stop needling me — I already said I will finish the report by Friday.
The reporter needled the politician with questions about the missing funds.
- compliment
positive feedback, opposite of annoying criticism
文法句型
needle + someone + about + something
用法筆記
Often used in continuous tenses (kept needling, was needling) to emphasise the repeated nature of the action. The object can be followed by about + topic or with + instrument (questions, jokes, comments).
常見錯誤
2. to push a needle into fabric, skin, or another material in order to sew, stitch,
to push a needle into fabric, skin, or another material in order to sew, stitch, or make a small hole in it
The tailor carefully needled the torn sleeve back together.
needle + object + back together
Emily needled a small red flower onto the white handkerchief as a gift.
needle + design + onto + fabric
The leather was too thick to be needled by hand, so the cobbler used a machine.
Rafael needled the loose button back onto his shirt before the meeting.
文法句型
needle + object + together/onto
be needled + adverb
用法筆記
This sense is fairly uncommon in everyday speech; sew, stitch, or prick are more frequent. It appears most often in craft or medical descriptions.
needling — noun
1. a short, thin metal tool with a sharp tip on one side and a small opening on the
a short, thin metal tool with a sharp tip on one side and a small opening on the other side, used to pull thread through pieces of cloth when sewing
Yael threaded the needle carefully before starting to sew the dress.
thread the needle — common fixed phrase
Sahil pricked his finger on the needle while fixing the hem of his skirt.
A sewing kit usually contains several needles of different sizes.
The needle broke when Tara tried to sew through two layers of denim.
- sewing needle
full form, avoids ambiguity with other types
2. a long, thin, smooth rod, usually made of metal, plastic, or wood, used in pairs
a long, thin, smooth rod, usually made of metal, plastic, or wood, used in pairs for knitting wool or yarn into fabric
Harper dropped a knitting needle and had to crawl under the sofa to find it.
These thicker needles are better for working with chunky wool.
Grandma always keeps her knitting needles and a ball of yarn in a bag by the armchair.
Bao bought a set of bamboo knitting needles from the craft shop on the corner.
- knitting pin
UK regional term, less common
用法筆記
Almost always used in the plural (needles) because knitting requires two. The singular (needle) only appears when talking about a single rod or a crochet hook.
3. a sharp, hollow medical attachment that fits a syringe, letting healthcare worke
a sharp, hollow medical attachment that fits a syringe, letting healthcare workers either deliver medicine under the skin or draw liquid samples out of a patient
The nurse used a small needle to give Caleb a flu vaccine.
use a needle to give a vaccine
Leo was nervous about the needle, so the doctor told him to look away.
Diabetics often need to inject insulin with a needle several times a day.
Used needles must be thrown into a special sharps container for safety.
The blood sample was taken with a needle from a vein in Kofi's arm.
- syringe
the whole device including the tube; less precise for the metal part alone
- hypodermic needle
formal/technical term
用法筆記
In everyday conversation, needle (without syringe) usually refers to the whole injection device. Doctors may distinguish between the needle (the metal part) and the syringe (the plastic tube).
常見錯誤
4. a thin piece of metal that moves to show a direction, measurement, or position o
a thin piece of metal that moves to show a direction, measurement, or position on a compass, dial, scale, or other measuring device
The compass needle always points towards magnetic north.
compass needle points towards [direction]
Quinn watched the needle on the speedometer climb past one hundred kilometres per hour.
needle on [device]: speedometer
When the fuel needle drops below empty, the warning light comes on.
The needle on the old scale swung wildly before settling on the correct weight.
用法筆記
Often follows the pattern the [device] needle: compass needle, speedometer needle, fuel-gauge needle. The verb pairings are point (to/at), move, climb, drop, swing.
5. a thin, stiff, pointed leaf that grows in clusters on pine trees and other everg
a thin, stiff, pointed leaf that grows in clusters on pine trees and other evergreen conifers, usually dark green or brown when dry
The ground beneath the pine tree was covered with a thick layer of dried needles.
Nora gathered some pine needles to use as mulch in her garden.
A carpet of fallen needles made the forest path soft and quiet to walk on.
Pine needles release a fresh, woody smell when you crush them between your fingers.
- pine needle
precise term; same as the headword
- conifer needle
broader — includes needles from fir, spruce, cedar
用法筆記
Almost always used in the plural (pine needles) since they grow in large numbers on a tree and are usually talked about collectively.
6. the tiny pointed component at the end of a record-player arm that sits inside th
the tiny pointed component at the end of a record-player arm that sits inside the groove of a vinyl record and picks up sound waves to be played through speakers
The needle on the turntable skipped when someone walked across the wooden floor.
needle skips — common phrase for a record jumping
Hiro replaced the worn needle on his grandfather's old record player.
If the needle is dusty, the music will sound crackly and unclear.
Collectors often replace the factory needle with a higher-quality stylus for better sound.
- stylus
more technical/precise term
- phonograph needle
dated term for older record players
用法筆記
Stylus is the more formal/technical term. Needle in this sense is the everyday word used by people who collect and play vinyl records.