sting

[[t]stɪŋ[/t]]

v. stung, sting•ing, n.

1) zool. to prick or wound with a sharp-pointed, often venom-bearing organ

2) to affect painfully or irritatingly as a result of contact, as certain plants do

3) to cause to smart or to feel a sharp pain

4) to cause mental or moral anguish

5) to goad or drive, as by sharp irritation

6) sts Slang. to cheat or take advantage of, esp. to overcharge; soak

7) to use, have, or wound with a sting, as bees

8) to cause a sharp, smarting pain

9) to cause or feel acute mental pain or irritation:

The memory of that insult still stings[/ex]

10) to feel a smarting pain, as from a blow or the sting of an insect

11) pat an act or an instance of stinging

12) pat a wound, pain, or smart caused by stinging

13) any sharp physical or mental wound, hurt, or pain

14) anything or an element in anything that wounds, pains, or irritates

15) capacity to wound or pain:

Satire has a sting[/ex]

16) a sharp stimulus or incitement

17) zool. any of various sharp-pointed, often venom-bearing organs of insects or other animals

18) cvb sts Slang.

a) confidence game

b) an ostensibly illegal operation, as the buying of stolen goods, used by undercover investigators to collect evidence of wrongdoing

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Etymology: bef. 900; OE stingan, c. ON stinga to pierce