- needle
- noun1 for sewing, knitting, etc.ADJECTIVE▪ long▪ blunt▪ sharp▪ fine▪ darning, embroidery, knitting, sewing, tapestryVERB + NEEDLE▪ use▪ threadNEEDLE + VERB▪ prick sb/sthPHRASES▪ the eye of a needle▪ needle and thread▪
She sewed it on with needle and thread.
▪ a needle in a haystack▪Looking for one man in a city this size is like looking for a needle in a haystack (= difficult to find).
2 for drugsADJECTIVE▪ hypodermic, syringe▪ injection▪ long▪ sharp▪ fine, thin▪ clean, sterile▪ contaminated, dirty, infected (esp. BrE)▪ usedVERB + NEEDLE▪ inject, insert, jab (sb with), plunge, push, put, stick▪He saw her stick a needle into her arm.
▪ remove, withdraw▪ use▪ share▪the dangers of sharing needles
NEEDLE + VERB▪ go in▪The needle went in easily.
▪ pierce sth▪She winced when she felt the needle pierce her skin.
NEEDLE + NOUN▪ tip▪ exchange▪needle exchange schemes (BrE)
▪needle exchange programs (AmE)
(= where drug users can change used needles for clean ones)▪ biopsyPHRASES▪ the prick of a needle3 on a compass/instrumentADJECTIVE▪ magnetic▪ compassNEEDLE + VERB▪ move▪The needle moved away from the wind.
▪ pointPHRASES▪ the needle of a compass4 on a pine treeADJECTIVE▪ conifer, pineVERB + NEEDLE▪ drop, lose
Collocations dictionary. 2013.
