sting

1. v. t. Any sharp organ of offense and defense, especially when connected with a poison gland, and adapted to inflict a wound by piercing; as the caudal sting of a scorpion. The sting of a bee or wasp is a modified ovipositor. The caudal sting, or spine, of a sting ray is a modified dorsal fin ray. The term is sometimes applied to the fang of a serpent. See Illust. of Scorpion. Source: opted

2. v. t. A sharp-pointed hollow hair seated on a gland which secrets an acrid fluid, as in nettles. The points of these hairs usually break off in the wound, and the acrid fluid is pressed into it. Source: opted

3. v. t. Anything that gives acute pain, bodily or mental; as, the stings of remorse; the stings of reproach. Source: opted

4. v. t. The thrust of a sting into the flesh; the act of stinging; a wound inflicted by stinging. Source: opted

5. v. t. A goad; incitement. Source: opted

6. v. t. The point of an epigram or other sarcastic saying. Source: opted

7. v. t. To pierce or wound with a sting; as, bees will sting an animal that irritates them; the nettles stung his hands. Source: opted

8. v. t. To pain acutely; as, the conscience is stung with remorse; to bite. Source: opted

9. v. t. To goad; to incite, as by taunts or reproaches. Source: opted

10. n. a kind of pain; something as sudden and painful as being stung Source: wordnet

11. n. a mental pain or distress Source: wordnet

12. n. a painful wound caused by the thrust of an insect's stinger into skin Source: wordnet

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