needle — a thin, pointed piece of metal used for sewing
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a thin, pointed piece of metal used for sewing
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈniːdəl/
Example Sentences
- Finding a parking spot downtown is like finding a needle in a haystack.
- My grandmother can thread a needle without glasses - it's her superpower!
- The acupuncture needles were so thin I barely felt them.
needle
NOUN[/ˈniːdəl/]
a thin, pointed piece of metal used for sewing
The tailor carefully threaded a needle before sewing the shirt.
She needed a little needle to fix the torn pocket. (NEED + LITTLE → you need a little tool to sew)
A needle fell beside a beetle, and a curious poodle sniffed at both.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word originates from Old English 'nǣdl', which derives from the common ancestor language of the Germanic language family. This ancient term reflects humanity's long history of using needles as tools.
Breakdown
Old English 'nǣdl' evolved into Middle English and then Modern English 'needle', with the vowel sound shifting through regular sound changes (nǣdl → needle) characteristic of Germanic language development.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“Finding a parking spot downtown is like finding a needle in a haystack.”
“My grandmother can thread a needle without glasses - it's her superpower!”
“The acupuncture needles were so thin I barely felt them.”
“My brother keeps needling me about my terrible cooking skills.”
“She dropped her contact lens - it was like looking for a needle in a haystack on the bathroom floor.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.