noun / verb
sting
STING/stɪŋ/
A sharp piercing pain.
The wasp causes a sharp sting in the man's forearm.
Etymology
Old English stingan described piercing or pricking by weapons, bees, and plants. The meaning extended from the puncturing action to sharp pain itself, connecting a physical prick with the sensation an irritant can cause.
In context
Something seemed to sting my leg. I found a shrapnel bullet had plowed a shallow groove down the fleshy part of my thigh.
More examples
- Soap stings my eyes when I wash my face.
- The sting of the scrape fades after a few minutes.
- Her harsh reply stung more than I expected.
Forms
sting · stings · stung · stinging
Similar words
- twinge
- A brief, sudden pain, often felt deeper inside.
- prick
- A tiny, localized pain like a needle puncture.