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Added 9 October 2026

sting

/ˈstɪŋ/ noun

In Latin: pungō Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about sting at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A bump left on the skin after having been stung.
Look at this nasty hornet sting: it's turned blue!
A puncture made by an insect or arachnid in an attack, usually including the injection of venom.
She died from a bee sting.
A pointed portion of an insect or arachnid used for attack.

verb

To hurt, usually by introducing poison or a sharp point, or both.
To puncture with the stinger.
A mosquito stung me on the arm.
To hurt, to be in pain (physically or emotionally).
My eyes are stinging from the chopped onions.

Origin

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.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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