the leaf of a conifer
"The pine tree was covered in long, green needles that crunched underfoot."
a slender pointer for indicating the reading on the scale of a measuring instrument
"The speedometer needle dropped to zero as soon as she let off the gas pedal."
a sharp pointed implement (usually steel)
"She used a needle to sew the torn seam on her jacket."
a stylus that formerly made sound by following a groove in a phonograph record
"The old vinyl player required him to manually lower the needle onto the spinning record to begin playing music."
A fine, sharp implement usually for piercing such as sewing, or knitting, acupuncture, tattooing, body piercing, medical injections, etc.
"The nurse carefully inserted a sterile needle into the patient's arm to administer the medication."
In plain English: A needle is a thin tool with a sharp point used for sewing fabric together by passing thread through it.
"She used her needle and thread to fix the tear in her shirt."
Usage: Use "needle" to refer specifically to the thin tool used for stitching fabric or administering injections, distinguishing it from broader tools like pins that lack an eye for thread. When describing the action of piercing something small and precise, choose this word over generic terms like poke or stab.
prick with a needle
"The doctor gently pricked her finger with a needle to draw a blood sample."
To pierce with a needle, especially for sewing or acupuncture.
"The seamstress carefully threaded her needle to stitch the torn fabric together."
In plain English: To needle someone is to annoy them by making sarcastic remarks or asking irritating questions repeatedly.
"The doctor will needle your arm to take blood for testing."
A surname.
"Mr. Needle shook hands with his fellow board members at the charity gala."
The word "needle" comes from Old English nǣdl and traces back to a root meaning "to spin or twist." Its original sense of twisting thread has remained the same as its current definition.