stinger
/ˈstɪŋ.ər/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈstɪŋ.ɚ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈstiŋ-ər/ (ame, mw)
stinger — noun
- stingersingular
- stingersplural
1. a living thing, such as a bee, wasp, scorpion, or jellyfish, that can push poiso
a living thing, such as a bee, wasp, scorpion, or jellyfish, that can push poison into your skin through a sharp part of its body
Wei stepped on a stinger while walking barefoot in the grass, and her foot began to swell.
collocation: step on a stinger
Some stingers in tropical waters, like the box jellyfish, can be deadly to swimmers.
- stinging insect
more specific — refers only to insects, not jellyfish or scorpions
2. the sharp, needle-like organ on an insect, scorpion, or plant that injects poiso
the sharp, needle-like organ on an insect, scorpion, or plant that injects poison or venom into anything that touches or disturbs it
The bee left its stinger in the gardener's arm after she accidentally disturbed the hive.
verb collocation: leave / pull out a stinger
A scorpion uses the stinger at the tip of its tail both to catch food and to protect itself.
- sting (informal)
can informally refer to the venomous organ, but stinger is the precise term
用法筆記
Use remove or pull out for taking a stinger out of skin. Stingers of bees have small hooks and are often left behind after a sting.
常見錯誤
3. a temporary injury to the nerves in the neck or upper shoulder area, usually cau
a temporary injury to the nerves in the neck or upper shoulder area, usually caused during contact sports such as American football or rugby, marked by burning pain, numbness, or weakness in the arm
The quarterback left the game after suffering a stinger during a tackle that made his whole right arm go numb.
verb collocation: suffer / get a stinger
Javier felt a sharp burning stinger in his neck after the heavy collision on the rugby field.
- burner
interchangeable in sports contexts, common in American football
用法筆記
Stinger is the everyday name used by athletes and coaches; the medical term is brachial plexus injury or burner. Most stingers heal on their own within minutes or hours.
常見錯誤
4. a controlled golf shot hit with a low flight path, often used to keep the ball b
a controlled golf shot hit with a low flight path, often used to keep the ball below tree branches or out of strong wind
Under the low branches, Mateo played a stinger that rolled smoothly all the way onto the green.
verb collocation: play / hit a stinger
Her stinger stayed just a few feet above the ground and flew straight past the bunker.
- low punch shot
a similar low-trajectory shot, though not always hit with the same controlled power
- lob shot
a high-arcing golf shot, the opposite trajectory
5. an alcoholic drink made by mixing brandy with a sweet, mint-flavoured liqueur ca
an alcoholic drink made by mixing brandy with a sweet, mint-flavoured liqueur called crème de menthe, often served over crushed ice as an after-dinner cocktail
After dinner, Kenji ordered a stinger, the classic mint cocktail that pairs well with dark chocolate desserts.
phrase: classic mint cocktail
The bartender mixed a stinger with white crème de menthe and brandy, then poured it over crushed ice.
用法筆記
A stinger is traditionally served after dinner as a digestif. White crème de menthe gives a clear colour; green crème de menthe can also be used but changes the look.
常見錯誤
6. a long strip with sharp metal points that police or security forces place across
a long strip with sharp metal points that police or security forces place across a road to puncture the tyres of a vehicle that is trying to escape
The police deployed a stinger across the highway to stop the speeding car before it reached the city.
verb collocation: deploy / lay a stinger
After running over a stinger, the truck's tyres went flat almost immediately.
- spike strip
the general term for the device; Stinger is a specific brand
用法筆記
Stinger is a trademark name that has become the common word for this device. Other brands include Stop Stick and Tiger Tail.
7. a portable weapon that a soldier fires from the shoulder, which uses heat-seekin
a portable weapon that a soldier fires from the shoulder, which uses heat-seeking technology to track and destroy aircraft targets automatically after being launched
The soldier aimed a stinger missile at the incoming helicopter and fired from the ridge.
verb collocation: fire / launch a stinger
Stinger missiles track the heat of aircraft engines, making them highly effective against low-flying planes and helicopters.
- MANPADS
the general category — Man-Portable Air-Defence Systems — that includes the Stinger
用法筆記
Stinger is a trademark for the FIM-92 Stinger, a US-made shoulder-fired surface-to-air missile. The word is often capitalised in military contexts.