Definition of "sting"

sting¹

/stɪŋ/

noun
plural stings
1. A bump left on the skin after having been stung.
2. A puncture made by an insect or arachnid in an attack, usually including the injection of venom.
3. A pointed portion of an insect or arachnid used for attack.
4. A sharp, localised pain primarily on the epidermis
5. (botany) A sharp-pointed hollow hair seated on a gland which secretes an acrid fluid, as in nettles.
6. The thrust of a sting into the flesh; the act of stinging; a wound inflicted by stinging.
  Quotations
  the lurking serpent's mortal sting
  c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act II, scene ii]
7. (law enforcement) A police operation in which the police pretend to be criminals in order to catch a criminal.
  Quotations
  Shepard: I'm taking you in, Jax.Turian Bodyguard: It's a sting. Bastard set us up.Jax: What the hell are you playing at?
  2008, BioWare, Mass Effect, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, PC, scene: Citadel
8. A short percussive phrase played by a drummer to accent the punchline in a comedy show.
9. A brief sequence of music used in films, TV, and video games as a form of scenic punctuation or to identify the broadcasting station.
10. A support for a wind tunnel model which extends parallel to the air flow.
  Quotations
  The balance is mounted externally on top of the wind tunnel test section. A sting connects the balance to the model.
  2001, T. J. Mueller, Fixed and Flapping Wing Aerodynamics for Micro Air Vehicle Applications, page 118
11. (figurative) The harmful or painful part of something.
  Quotations
  The ſting of death is ſinne, […]
  1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], 1 Corinthians 15:56, column 1
  Just as it appeared Arsenal had taken the sting out of the tie, Johnson produced a moment of outrageous quality, thundering a bullet of a left foot shot out of the blue and into the top left-hand corner of Wojciech Szczesny's net with the Pole grasping at thin air.
  2011 January 19, Jonathan Stevenson, “Leeds 1 - 3 Arsenal”, in BBC‎
12. A goad; incitement.
  Quotations
  O most potential love! vow, bond, nor space, / In thee hath neither sting, knot, nor confine
  1609, William Shakespeare, “A Louers Complaint”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley
13. The concluding point of an epigram or other sarcastic saying.

sting²

/stɪŋ/

verb
third-person singular simple present stings, present participle stinging, simple past stung or (rare, dialectal) stang, past participle stung
1. (transitive, intransitive) To hurt, usually by introducing poison or a sharp point, or both.
2. (transitive, of an insect or arachnid) To puncture with the stinger.
3. (intransitive, sometimes figurative) To hurt, to be in pain (physically or emotionally).
  Quotations
  But Birmingham were clearly stung by some harsh words from manager Alex McLeish at the break and within 15 minutes of the restart the game had an entirely different complexion.
  2011 January 11, Jonathan Stevenson, “West Ham 2 - 1 Birmingham”, in BBC‎
4. (figurative) To cause harm or pain to.

Definition of "sting"

sting1

noun

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sting2

verb

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sting¹

sting²