needle

needle — noun

1. a short thin metal or plastic object that is sharpened to a tip at the front and

1.nounA2
Definition

a short thin metal or plastic object that is sharpened to a tip at the front and has a small hole near the back through which sewing thread passes, used for joining pieces of fabric together or stitching up cuts in medical treatment

Example

Sofia threaded the needle carefully before starting to sew her dress.

collocation: thread a needle

The tailor pushed the needle through the thick denim without bending it.

Common collocations
  • eye of a needle
  • thread a needle
  • sewing needle
  • needle and thread
Synonyms
  • pin

    a pin has no eye and is used for fastening cloth, not for sewing with thread

  • stylus

    a different tool for writing or engraving, not for sewing

Usage Note

The small hole in a sewing needle is called the eye. To thread a needle means to pass thread through the eye.

Common Mistakes

Put the thread into the needle.
Thread the needle.
'thread' is the verb used for passing thread through the eye.

2. a long slender rod, usually made of metal, plastic, or wood, that tapers to a ti

2.nounB1
Definition

a long slender rod, usually made of metal, plastic, or wood, that tapers to a tip and is used together with a second rod to create fabric by interlocking loops of yarn

Example

Eshe cast on forty stitches using her new bamboo knitting needles.

knitting specific vocabulary: cast on stitches

Thick knitting needles produce loose fabric, while thin ones create tight rows.

Common collocations
  • knitting needle
  • circular needle
  • bamboo needle
  • knitting needle size

Usage Note

Knitting needles are almost always used in pairs. Circular needles have a flexible cable connecting two needle ends and are used for knitting in the round.

3. an extremely narrow metal tube with a sharpened tip and an empty centre, attache

3.nounB1
Definition

an extremely narrow metal tube with a sharpened tip and an empty centre, attached to a syringe to inject medicine beneath the skin or to withdraw blood samples for laboratory testing

Example

The doctor warned that the needle would sting for only a second.

Ishaan felt dizzy at the sight of the long needle approaching his arm.

Common collocations
  • hypodermic needle
  • needle prick
  • needle phobia
  • needle and syringe
  • insulin needle
Synonyms
  • syringe

    the whole device including the tube; needle is just the pointed metal part

  • hypodermic

    formal technical term for the needle used under the skin

Usage Note

In everyday conversation, people often say shot or jab instead of needle: 'I had my flu shot today.' Needle is the name of the instrument; the medical procedure is an injection or shot.

Common Mistakes

I got a needle yesterday.
I got an injection yesterday.
'needle' refers to the tool; 'injection' or 'shot' refers to the medical procedure.

4. the thin moving metal piece on a compass, speedometer, or other measuring device

4.nounB2
Definition

the thin moving metal piece on a compass, speedometer, or other measuring device that turns to show a direction, value, or measurement on a scale

Example

The compass needle always points toward the Earth's magnetic north pole.

collocation: compass needle

Daniel watched the speedometer needle climb past one hundred kilometres per hour.

Common collocations
  • compass needle
  • speedometer needle
  • gauge needle
  • needle on a dial
Synonyms
  • pointer

    a more general word for anything that indicates a reading or direction

  • indicator

    technical term for the part of a gauge that shows a measurement

Common Mistakes

The watch needle shows three o'clock.
The watch hand shows three o'clock.
clocks and watches use hand, not needle, for their moving indicators.

5. the thin, stiff, pointed leaf that grows on pine trees and other evergreen trees

5.nounB1
Definition

the thin, stiff, pointed leaf that grows on pine trees and other evergreen trees that stay green all year

Example

A thick carpet of dry pine needles covered the forest floor.

collocation: pine needles + forest floor

The children gathered pine needles for their school nature project.

Common collocations
  • pine needle
  • fallen needles
  • pine needle mulch
  • needle cluster

Usage Note

Pine needles grow in clusters called bundles. Different pine species have bundles of two, three, or five needles.

6. the small, extremely hard pointed piece on a record player or turntable that tou

6.nounB2
Definition

the small, extremely hard pointed piece on a record player or turntable that touches the grooves of a spinning vinyl record and converts the movements into sound

Example

Sofia gently lowered the needle onto the vinyl record to start the music.

collocation: lower the needle onto [record]

A worn needle can scratch a record and ruin the sound quality.

Common collocations
  • stylus needle
  • diamond needle
  • needle on a turntable
  • replace the needle
Synonyms
  • stylus

    the technical term for the needle on a turntable; preferred by audio enthusiasts

  • cartridge

    the larger unit that holds the needle or stylus

Usage Note

Needle is the everyday word; the technical term is stylus. Most modern record players still use a needle, though the word stylus is common among audio enthusiasts.

Idioms

a needle in a haystack

idiom

something that is extremely difficult or nearly impossible to find because there are so many other similar things around

Finding my lost earring on this beach will be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

The detective admitted that finding the witness in a city of millions was a needle in a haystack.

on pins and needles

idiom

very nervous, anxious, or excited while waiting for something important to happen or for a piece of news

The students were on pins and needles while the teacher read out the exam results.

Aoi was on pins and needles all morning, waiting to hear if she got the job.

needle and thread

idiom

a set of sewing equipment consisting of a needle with thread passed through its eye, used for sewing or mending cloth items

The old woman always kept a needle and thread in her bag for emergency repairs.

Haruto asked the hotel front desk if they had a needle and thread to fix his torn jacket.

be on pins and needles

idiom

Feeling very nervous or excited while waiting for something important.

Maya was on pins and needles before her job interview.

Are you on pins and needles waiting for the exam results?

needle — verb

Word family

  • needling
    nounC1
  • needler
    nounC1
  • needlepoint
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four verbs describe causing someone irritation, but they differ in manner and intensity. Tease is the lightest — it is playful or affectionate, meant to be funny rather than hurtful. Needle sits between tease and provoke: it involves persistent, pointed comments designed to get under someone's skin, but usually without serious hostility. Provoke is stronger and often aims to trigger anger or a specific reaction. Nag means repeatedly complaining about the same thing, typically about someone's behaviour or duties. Goad is the most forceful — it pushes someone into action through relentless pressure or insults. For example: 'The kids teased Aoi about her hat, but she laughed it off.' 'Darius's friend kept needling him about his old phone until he finally lost his temper.' 'The opposition party tried to provoke the government into an early election.' 'His mother nagged him to clean his room every single day.' 'The coach goaded the tired team into running one more lap.'

teaseprovoke ↗nag ↗goad

Common collocations

Phrases

Etymology

Proto-Indo-EuropeanProto-GermanicOld EnglishEnglish

The word needle comes from Old English nǣdl, which traces back through Germanic languages to an ancient Indo-European root related to sewing and spinning. The earliest meaning — the sewing tool — dates back over a thousand years. The other meanings developed later by analogy with the thin, pointed shape of the original object: the pointer on a compass (14th century), the leaf of a pine tree (19th century), and the stylus of a record player (early 20th century). The verb meaning 'to annoy' appeared in the 19th century, from the idea of pricking someone with sharp remarks.