needle
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.
[someone] uses a needle to sew [something]
- 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.
- 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.
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.
[someone] inserts a needle into [a body part]
- 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.
- 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.
pointer on a dial or gauge
A long, thin pointer on a machine or compass that moves to show numbers or direction.
the needle points to [a value/direction]
- 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.
- 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.
tease or annoy someone
To keep saying things to someone to make them angry or upset on purpose.
[someone] needles [someone] about [something]
- 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.
- 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.
thin leaf of a pine tree
A long, thin, sharp leaf from a pine or similar tree.
pine needles fall on [the ground/something]
- 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.
- 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.
record player stylus
The small, sharp part of a record player that touches the record and makes the music play.
the needle drops on [the record]
- 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.
- 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.
rod used for knitting
A long, thin stick used, usually in pairs, to make clothes and other things from yarn.
[someone] knits with needles
- 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.
- 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.
any long thin pointed object
Any long, thin, sharp thing that looks like a needle.
a needle of [material] sticks out of [something]
- 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.
- 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.
- Base: needle
- Plural: needles
- Base: needle
- 3rd Person Singular: needles
- Present Participle: needling
- Past: needled
a needle in a haystack
1something extremely hard to find
Something that is almost impossible to find because there are many other things around it.
- 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
1an 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.
- 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
1cause a noticeable change
To have a clear, important effect on a situation, result, or number.
- 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
1basic tools for sewing
A sewing needle and some thread, used together to sew cloth.
- 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
1program giving clean needles
A health program where people who inject drugs can get clean needles and return used ones, to reduce disease.
- 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
1have little or no effect
To have almost no effect on a situation, result, or number.
- 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.