ENGLISH
REFERENCE

sting

n. countable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈstɪŋ// UK //stˈɪŋ// sting

n. a sharp, painful feeling caused by an insect or a plant. It can also describe a sudden emotional pain, like when someone says something mean to you.

n. a sharp, localized pain resulting from a puncture or chemical irritation, typically inflicted by an insect or plant. It may also refer to a sudden, distressing emotional sensation or a clever, deceptive operation.


SIMPLE

The bee sting on my arm is very itchy.

CONTEXTUAL

She felt the sting of his rejection long after the conversation had ended.

COMPLEX

The investigative team organized an elaborate sting to catch the smugglers as they attempted to move the stolen goods across the border.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Middle English styng, sting, stynge, stenge, from Old English sting, stincg (“a sting, stab, thrust made with a pointed instrument; the wound made by a stab or sting”), from Proto-Germanic stingaz; possibly also from Old English stynġ, from Proto-Germanic stungiz.

Etymology 2

From Middle English stingen, from Old English stingan, from Proto-Germanic *stinganą. Compare Swedish and Icelandic stinga.

Usage

Commonly used with the verb 'to feel' or 'to get'.

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