needle
gb/nˈidəl/ us/nˈidəl/
A2
English
~ 9300
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
slender sewing tool with an eye
A very thin, sharp piece of metal with a small hole for thread, used to sew clothes or fabric.
Usage pattern:
[someone] uses a needle to sew [something]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "needle" and "pin". A needle has a small hole (an eye) for thread and is used for sewing through cloth. A pin usually has a head and is used to hold pieces of fabric together temporarily.
Synonyms
sewing needle (More explicit; clearly refers to this type of needle and not medical or other kinds.)
Collocations
sewing needle
|needle and thread
|sharp needle
|fine needle
|thread a needle
Themes
daily_life
|clothing
|crafts
Examples
- I pricked my finger on a needle while fixing my shirt.
- She threaded a needle and started to sew the button back on.
- Keep the needle and thread in the small box by the scissors.
- You’ll need a very fine needle for this delicate fabric.
- He always carries a needle and some thread when he travels.
Learner examples
- She uses a needle to make her dress.
- I cannot see the small hole in the needle.
- Please give me a needle and some thread.
- Be careful, the needle is very sharp.
- My mother teaches me how to thread a needle.
Noun
B1
entity
2
medical needle for injections
A very thin, sharp metal tube doctors use with a syringe to put medicine into your body or take blood out.
Usage pattern:
[someone] inserts a needle into [a body part]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "needle" when they mean "injection" or "shot" (e.g., *I got a needle*). In many contexts, it's more natural to say "I got an injection" or "I got a shot", and reserve "needle" for the physical object.
Synonyms
hypodermic needle (More technical and specific; clearly refers to a medical injection needle used under the skin.)
Collocations
hypodermic needle
|insert the needle
|needle and syringe
|a needle in the arm
|needle stick
Themes
health
|medicine
|science
|body
Examples
- The nurse gently inserted the needle into his arm.
- Many people are afraid of needles and injections.
- Make sure the needle is sterile before using it.
- She looked away as the doctor pushed the needle in.
- The blood sample is taken with a small disposable needle.
Learner examples
- The doctor uses a needle to give me a shot.
- He is scared of the needle at the hospital.
- The nurse puts the needle in my arm.
- This needle is very small and thin.
- They throw the used needle in a special box.
Noun
technical
B2
entity
3
pointer on a dial or gauge
A long, thin pointer on a machine or compass that moves to show numbers or direction.
Usage pattern:
the needle points to [a value/direction]
Common mistake:
Learners may describe this as a "hand" or simply a "line". "Needle" is the usual term for the thin pointer on devices like a compass, speedometer, or old-style gauges.
Synonyms
pointer (More general word for any indicator; not limited to needle-shaped ones.)
Collocations
compass needle
|speedometer needle
|needle points to
|needle moves
|needle on the gauge
Themes
technology
|science
|transport
Examples
- The compass needle slowly turned north.
- Keep an eye on the temperature gauge; if the needle goes into the red, stop the car.
- The needle on the speedometer was stuck at zero.
- As the engine warmed up, the needle moved to the middle of the dial.
- The meter’s needle jumped when we turned on the device.
Learner examples
- The compass needle shows north.
- The needle on the car meter moves up.
- If the needle is in the red area, there is a problem.
- The needle points to a higher number now.
- The small needle on the watch shows the seconds.
Verb
informal
B2
action
4
tease or annoy someone
To keep saying things to someone to make them angry or upset on purpose.
Usage pattern:
[someone] needles [someone] about [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this verb is common in all situations, but it is mostly used in informal spoken English. In neutral or formal writing, verbs like "annoy", "provoke", or "tease" are more common.
Synonyms
provoke (More formal and serious; can suggest causing a strong or angry reaction.)
Antonyms
comfort (Means to make someone feel better, the opposite of annoying or upsetting them.)
Collocations
needle someone about
|constantly needle
|really needle him
|enjoys needling her
Themes
emotions
|communication
|relationships
Examples
- He loves to needle his brother about his favorite football team.
- She kept needling him with little jokes until he finally snapped.
- Don’t needle her about the mistake; she already feels bad.
- The interviewer tried to needle the politician into saying something controversial.
- They teased and needled each other all afternoon, but it was all in fun.
Learner examples
- He always needles his friend about his bad driving.
- Please don’t needle me; I am very tired.
- She likes to needle her brother with small jokes.
- They needle each other, but they are still good friends.
- Stop needling him; he looks angry now.
Noun
technical
B2
entity
5
thin leaf of a pine tree
A long, thin, sharp leaf from a pine or similar tree.
Usage pattern:
pine needles fall on [the ground/something]
Common mistake:
Learners may call these leaves simply "leaves". While that is not wrong, the common and precise word for the thin leaves of pine and similar trees is "needles" or "pine needles".
Synonyms
pine needle (More specific; clearly refers to the leaf of a pine tree, not other types of needles.)
Collocations
pine needles
|needles on the tree
|fallen needles
|needle-covered forest floor
Themes
nature
|plants
|environment
Examples
- The ground was covered in dry pine needles.
- She brushed the needles off her coat after walking through the forest.
- The Christmas tree dropped needles all over the carpet.
- You could smell the sharp scent of pine needles in the air.
- He used a handful of needles and small sticks to start the fire.
Learner examples
- Pine needles cover the forest floor.
- The tree is losing many needles.
- There are dry needles on the ground.
- The Christmas tree drops green needles.
- We walked on soft pine needles in the forest.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
6
record player stylus
The small, sharp part of a record player that touches the record and makes the music play.
Usage pattern:
the needle drops on [the record]
Common mistake:
Learners may not know this special meaning and think of a sewing needle. In music or audio contexts, "needle" usually refers to the small part of a record player, often also called a "stylus".
Synonyms
stylus (More technical and precise term used by audio professionals and equipment makers.)
Collocations
record player needle
|turntable needle
|change the needle
|needle on the record
Themes
music
|technology
|entertainment
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- The song started as soon as the needle touched the record.
- You really should replace the needle; it’s wearing out the vinyl.
- He carefully lowered the needle onto his favorite album.
- A damaged needle can ruin your records.
- She cleaned the needle before playing the next track.
Learner examples
- The needle on the record player plays the music.
- He puts the needle on the record very slowly.
- You need a good needle for a clear sound.
- The old needle makes a bad noise.
- They buy a new needle for their record player.
Noun
B2
entity
7
rod used for knitting
A long, thin stick used, usually in pairs, to make clothes and other things from yarn.
Usage pattern:
[someone] knits with needles
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse sewing needles and knitting needles. Sewing needles are short with a small eye for thread; knitting needles are much longer rods, usually used in pairs, with no eye.
Synonyms
knitting needle (More explicit; clearly refers to this type of needle and not sewing or medical needles.)
Collocations
knitting needles
|pair of needles
|needle size
|circular needles
Themes
crafts
|clothing
|hobbies
|daily_life
Examples
- She clicked her needles together as she knitted a scarf.
- You’ll need larger needles for this chunky wool.
- He bought a new set of bamboo knitting needles.
- The pattern calls for size 4 needles and cotton yarn.
- She keeps her needles in a long fabric case.
Learner examples
- She uses two long needles to knit a hat.
- The knitting needles are in the bag.
- He needs bigger needles for thick yarn.
- Her needles make a soft sound on the table.
- I learn to knit with small needles.
Noun
B2
entity
8
any long thin pointed object
Any long, thin, sharp thing that looks like a needle.
Usage pattern:
a needle of [material] sticks out of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that "needle" can be used more generally for any very thin, sharp object, not only for sewing or medicine. In descriptions, English often uses "needle" or "needle-like" for this shape.
Synonyms
spike (Usually thicker and heavier; not as thin and delicate as a typical needle.)
Antonyms
blunt object (Lacks a sharp point, the opposite physical characteristic of a needle-like object.)
Collocations
steel needle
|needle-like point
|ice needle
|needle-shaped spike
Themes
objects
|description
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- A thin metal needle was sticking out of the machine.
- The cactus was covered in tiny needles.
- Fine needles of ice formed on the window overnight.
- The sea urchin’s needles can be very painful if you step on them.
- The artist used glass needles to create the sculpture.
Learner examples
- The cactus has many sharp needles.
- There is a thin metal needle inside the device.
- Ice needles grow on the cold window.
- Be careful of the needles on that plant.
- The sea animal has long, hard needles.
Grammar
Dictionary form
needle
IPA
GB/nˈidəl/
US/nˈidəl/
Syllables & stress
needle (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (needle)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: needle
- Plural: needles
Verb
- Base: needle
- 3rd Person Singular: needles
- Present Participle: needling
- Past: needled
Word family
Forms
needles
noun
needling
verb
needled
verb
Related words
needlework
noun
needlepoint
noun
Expressions
a needle in a haystack
1/ə nˈidəl ˈɪn ə hˈeɪstˌæk/
idiom
something extremely hard to find
Something that is almost impossible to find because there are many other things around it.
Examples
- Finding my keys on this beach would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
- The right candidate is out there, but in this market he’s a needle in a haystack.
like looking for a needle in a haystack
1/lˈaɪk lˈʊkɪŋ fɚ ə nˈidəl ˈɪn ə hˈeɪstˌæk/
idiom
an extremely difficult search
Used to say that finding something is extremely hard because there are so many other things and no clear way to find it.
Examples
- Trying to find that email from three years ago is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
- Without the exact address, finding their house was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
move the needle
1/mˈuv ðə nˈidəl/
idiom
cause a noticeable change
To have a clear, important effect on a situation, result, or number.
Examples
- The new marketing campaign really moved the needle on sales.
- Cutting a few small costs won’t move the needle; we need bigger changes.
needle and thread
1/nˈidəl ˈænd θɹˈɛd/
fixed phrase
basic tools for sewing
A sewing needle and some thread, used together to sew cloth.
Examples
- All you need to fix that hole is a needle and thread.
- She always carries a little kit with a needle and thread when she travels.
needle exchange
1/nˈidəl ɪkst͡ʃˈeɪnd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
technical
program giving clean needles
A health program where people who inject drugs can get clean needles and return used ones, to reduce disease.
Examples
- The city opened a new needle exchange to fight the spread of HIV.
- Critics worried about the needle exchange, but studies showed it improved public health.
not move the needle
1/nˈɑt mˈuv ðə nˈidəl/
idiom
have little or no effect
To have almost no effect on a situation, result, or number.
Examples
- Those small donations are nice, but they don’t really move the needle.
- The policy changes didn’t move the needle on customer satisfaction scores.