01 n. Any sharp organ of offense and defense, especially when connected with a poison gland, and adapted to inflict a wound by piercing; as the c…
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1.
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.(Zool.) See: Scorpion
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2.
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.(Bot.)
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3.
Anything that gives acute pain, bodily or mental; as, the stings of remorse; the stings of reproach.“The sting of death is sin.” — 1 Cor. xv. 56.
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4.
The thrust of a sting into the flesh; the act of stinging; a wound inflicted by stinging.
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5.
A goad; incitement.
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6.
The point of an epigram or other sarcastic saying.
Phrases & compounds
Sting moth —
an Australian moth (Doratifera vulnerans) whose larva is armed, at each end of the body, with four tubercles bearing powerful stinging organs.
Sting ray —
See under 6th Ray.
Sting winkle —
a spinose marine univalve shell of the genus Murex, as the European species (Murex erinaceus). See Illust. of Murex.