# Needles

/ˈnidəɫz/ (US) · /nˈiːdəlz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/needles
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. sewing tools

noun · CEFR A2

small, thin pieces of metal with a sharp point and a hole for thread, used for sewing.

For teachers: slender, pointed implements used in sewing, typically made of polished steel and featuring an eye for thread.

- She kept a box of different sized needles in her sewing kit.
- The tailor selected one of the finer needles to ensure the stitches remained invisible against the delicate silk fabric.

### 2. tree leaves

noun · CEFR B1

the thin, sharp, green leaves found on trees like pines and firs.

For teachers: the needle-shaped leaves characteristic of conifers, adapted to reduce water loss.

- The ground was covered in dry pine needles that crunched under our feet.
- The forest floor was carpeted with a thick layer of decaying needles, which acidified the soil and prevented most smaller plants from growing.

### 3. medical tools

noun · CEFR B1

the very thin, sharp metal tubes used by doctors to give injections.

For teachers: hollow, sharpened metal instruments used with syringes to inject or withdraw fluids from the body.

- Many people feel nervous when they see needles at the doctor's office.
- The nurse carefully disposed of the used needles in a puncture-proof container to maintain strict clinical safety standards.

### 4. to annoy or tease

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

to annoy someone by repeatedly teasing them or asking them questions.

For teachers: to provoke, annoy, or harass someone through persistent teasing or criticism.

- He constantly needles his sister about her messy room until she gets angry.
- The journalist needles the politician during every press conference, hoping to elicit a defensive or revealing response.

## Examples

- She used a sharp needle to sew the button back on.
- The nurse carefully disposed of the used needles in a puncture-proof container to ensure safety.
- The tailor selected a fine needle to work on the delicate silk, ensuring that the punctures would be nearly invisible to the naked eye.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.