n. [ AS. sting a sting. See Sting, v. t. ] 1. (Zool.) 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Anything that gives acute pain, bodily or mental; as, the stings of remorse; the stings of reproach. [ 1913 Webster ]

The sting of death is sin. 1 Cor. xv. 56. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The thrust of a sting into the flesh; the act of stinging; a wound inflicted by stinging. “The lurking serpent's mortal sting.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A goad; incitement. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. The point of an epigram or other sarcastic saying. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sting moth (Zool.), an Australian moth (Doratifera vulnerans) whose larva is armed, at each end of the body, with four tubercles bearing powerful stinging organs. --
Sting ray. (Zool.) See under 6th Ray. --
Sting winkle (Zool.), a spinose marine univalve shell of the genus Murex, as the European species (Murex erinaceus). See Illust. of Murex. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Stung Archaic Stang ; p. pr. & vb. n. Stinging. ] [ AS. stingan; akin to Icel. & Sw. stinga, Dan. stinge, and probably to E. stick, v.t.; cf. Goth. usstiggan to put out, pluck out. Cf. Stick, v. t. ] 1. To pierce or wound with a sting; as, bees will sting an animal that irritates them; the nettles stung his hands. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To pain acutely; as, the conscience is stung with remorse; to bite. “Slander stings the brave.” Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To goad; to incite, as by taunts or reproaches. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Any sting ray. See under 6th Ray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The European greater weever fish (Trachinus draco), which is capable of inflicting severe wounds with the spinous rays of its dorsal fin. See Weever. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, stings. [ 1913 Webster ]

Professor E. Forbes states that only a small minority of the medusae of our seas are stingers. Owen. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The weever. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a stingy manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being stingy. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Piercing, or capable of piercing, with a sting; inflicting acute pain as if with a sting, goad, or pointed weapon; pungent; biting; as, stinging cold; a stinging rebuke. -- Sting"ing*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

Stinging cell. (Zool.) Same as Lasso cell, under Lasso. [1913 Webster]

a. Having no sting. [ 1913 Webster ]