ndl

Noun

needle (plural needles)

1. A long, thin, sharp implement usually for piercing as in sewing, embroidery, acupuncture, tattooing, body piercing, medical injections, sutures, etc; or a blunt but otherwise similar implement used for forming loops or knots in crafts such as darning, knitting, tatting, etc.
   • The seamstress threaded the needle to sew on a button.

   Synonyms:

   neele

2. Any slender, pointed object resembling a needle, such as a pointed crystal, a sharp pinnacle of rock, an obelisk, etc.
3. A fine measurement indicator on a dial or graph.
   • a compass needle
4. (informal) A sensor for playing phonograph records, a phonograph stylus.
   • Ziggy bought some diamond needles for his hi-fi phonograph.
5. A needle-like leaf found on some conifers.
   • At the very moment he cried out, David realised that what he had run into was only the Christmas tree. Disgusted with himself at such cowardice, he spat a needle from his mouth.1994, Stephen Fry, chapter 2, in The Hippopotamus
6. A strong beam resting on props, used as a temporary support during building repairs.

See all 14 meanings of needle