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Sting - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

A sting is a sharp pain caused by an insect, plant, or other object piercing the skin. It can also refer to a clever trick or deception meant to catch someone off guard.

sting

/stɪŋ/ /stɪŋ/

Definition:

A sharp pain caused by an insect or plant, or a clever trick to catch someone.

Synonyms:

prick, bite, smart, burn

Part of Speech:

noun, verb

Antonyms:

soothe, comfort

Common Collocations:

bee sting, sting operation, sharp sting, painful sting

Derivatives:

stinger, stinging, stung

Usage Tips:

Use "sting" for physical pain from insects or metaphorical pain from betrayal or tricks.

Common Phrases:

sting in the tail, take the sting out of something, a sting operation

Etymology:

Old English "stingan," meaning to pierce or stab; related to Old Norse "stinga."

Examples:

  • 1. The bee left a painful sting on her arm.
  • 2. He felt the sting of betrayal after his friend lied to him.
  • 3. The police set up a sting to catch the thieves.
  • 4. A jellyfish’s sting can be very dangerous if not treated quickly.

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