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needle

1 needle /ˈniːdl̟/ noun
plural needles
1 needle
/ˈniːdl̟/
noun
plural needles
Britannica Dictionary definition of NEEDLE
[count]
: a small, very thin object that is used in sewing and that has a sharp point at one end and a hole for thread
see picture at sewing
: one of the two long, thin sticks that are used in knitting and that are pointed at one end
: a very thin, pointed steel tube that is pushed through the skin so that something (such as a drug) can be put into your body or so that blood or other fluids can be taken from it
: a very thin tube used with a pump to put air into a ball (such as a basketball or football)
: a long, thin object that moves to point to something (such as a measurement or direction)
: a leaf that is shaped like a very thin stick see color picture on this page
: a very small piece of metal that touches a record and produces sound when the record is played

a needle in a haystack

informal
: someone or something that is very hard to find
see also pins and needles

— needlelike

/ˈniːdl̟ˌlaɪk/ adjective [more needlelike; most needlelike]
2 needle /ˈniːdl̟/ verb
needles; needled; needling
2 needle
/ˈniːdl̟/
verb
needles; needled; needling
Britannica Dictionary definition of NEEDLE
[+ object] informal
: to criticize and laugh at (someone) in either a friendly or an unkind way : tease