needle

Definitions

• A fine, sharp implement usually for piercing such as sewing, or knitting, acupuncture, tattooing, body piercing, medical injections, etc.
• Any slender, pointed object resembling a needle, such as a pointed crystal, a sharp pinnacle of rock, an obelisk, etc.
• A fine measurement indicator on a dial or graph, e.g. a compass needle.
• A sensor for playing phonograph records, a phonograph stylus.
• A needle-like leaf found on some conifers.
• A strong beam resting on props, used as a temporary support during building repairs.
• (informal) The death penalty carried out by lethal injection.
• (programming) A text string that is searched for within another string. (see: needle in a haystack)