sting

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to feel a sharp, burning pain in your body or your feelings.

v. to experience or cause a sharp, localized, burning sensation, either physically or emotionally.

“My eyes began to sting because of the smoke from the campfire.”

“His harsh criticism continued to sting long after the meeting had ended, damaging his confidence for the rest of the week.”

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. the small, painful bump or the sharp feeling left after being stung.

n. the localized pain or the physical mark resulting from the act of stinging.

“She put some cream on the bee sting to stop the itching.”

“The initial sting of the antiseptic was brief, but it was necessary to prevent the wound from becoming infected.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Law Informal

n. a clever plan by the police to catch criminals by pretending to be part of a crime.

n. a deceptive operation designed to catch a person committing a crime by using an undercover agent as a victim or accomplice.

“The police caught the thieves during a sting operation at the warehouse.”

“Federal agents spent six months coordinating the sting, eventually arresting several high-profile figures involved in the smuggling ring.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Music Technical

n. a very short piece of music used in a TV show or film to separate scenes.

n. a brief musical phrase or sound effect used in broadcasting to punctuate a scene or identify a station.

“The news program always starts with a dramatic musical sting.”

“The sound designer inserted a sharp orchestral sting to emphasize the protagonist's sudden realization during the climax of the scene.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. the sharp part of an insect used to attack.

n. the sharp-pointed organ of an insect or arachnid used for defense or attack.

“When a honeybee attacks, its sting often gets left behind in the skin.”

“The biologist examined the wasp's sting under a microscope to study the mechanism of venom delivery.”