n. 1 sharp wounding organ of an insect, snake, nettle, etc. 2 a act of inflicting a wound with this. b the wound itself or the pain caused by it. 3 painful quality or effect. 4 pungency, vigour. 5 slang swindle. v. (past and past part. stung) 1 a wound or pierce with a sting. b be able to sting. 2 feel or give a tingling physical or sharp mental pain. 3 (foll. by into) incite, esp. painfully (stung into replying). 4 slang swindle, charge exorbitantly. o sting in the tail unexpected final pain or difficulty. [Old English]
