needle
1.
a. another name for stylus
b. a small thin pointed device, esp one made of stainless steel, used to transmit the vibrations from a gramophone record to the pick-up
2. Med
a. the long hollow pointed part of a hypodermic syringe, which is inserted into the body
b. an informal name for hypodermic syringe
3. Surgery a pointed steel instrument, often curved, for suturing, puncturing, or ligating
4. a long narrow stiff leaf, esp of a conifer, in which water loss is greatly reduced
5. any slender sharp spine, such as the spine of a sea urchin
6. any slender pointer for indicating the reading on the scale of a measuring instrument
7. short for magnetic needle
8. a crystal resembling a needle in shape
9. a sharp pointed metal instrument used in engraving and etching
Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
What does it mean when you dream about a needle?
If something were “needling” a person, then this dream symbol would be appropriate. A threaded needle can indicate the repairing of, or the sewing up of, unfinished issues in one’s personal or business life. If, however, a needle is seen as an instrument of health in the hands of a doctor or a nurse, then health issues may be of concern to the dreamer. (See also Syringe, Vaccination).
The Dream Encyclopedia, Second Edition © 2009 Visible Ink Press®. All rights reserved.
needle
[′nēd·əl] (botany)
A slender-pointed leaf, as of the firs and other evergreens.
(computer science)
A slender rod or probe used to sort decks of edge-punched cards by inserting it through holes along the margin of the deck and vibrating the deck so that cards having that particular hole are retained, but those having a notch cut at that hole position drop out.
(design engineering)
A device made of steel pointed at one end with a hole at the other; used for sewing.
A device made of steel with a hook at one end; used for knitting.
(engineering)
A piece of copper or brass about ½ inch (13 millimeters) in diameter and 3 or 4 feet (90 or 120 centimeters) long, pointed at one end, thrust into a charge of blasting powder in a borehole and then withdrawn, leaving a hole for the priming, fuse, or squib. Also known as pricker.
A thin pointed indicator on an instrument dial.
(engineering acoustics)
(geology)
A pointed, elevated, and detached mass of rock formed by erosion, such as an aiguille.
(hydrology)
A long, slender snow crystal that is at least five times as long as it is broad.
(mineralogy)
A needle-shaped or acicular mineral crystal.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
needle
1. A piece of timber laid horizontally and supported on props or shores under a wall or building, etc.; provides temporary support while the foundation or part beneath is altered, repaired, or underpinned.
2. A short timber, or the like, which passes through a hole in a wall; used to support a shore, a scaffold, etc.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Architecture and Construction. Copyright © 2003 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
stylus
(1) A pen-shaped instrument that absorbs current and is used with the capacitive touchscreens on smartphones and tablets. The correct plural word for stylus is "styli", pronounced "sty-lie;" however, most people say "styluses." See Surface Pen, Apple Pencil, stylus pen and touchscreen.(2) A pen-shaped instrument that is used to "draw" images or select from menus on resistive touchscreens that react to pressure. See touchscreen.
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| PDA Styli |
|---|
| A stylus was used on old Palm PDAs, which required pressure on the screen to operate. It was included with every Palm organizer (see PalmPilot). |
(3) The needle part of a phonograph cartridge, which typically contains a diamond tip. The stylus rides in the grooves of the phonograph record, picking up the vibrations carved into the vinyl, and is attached to a cantilever arm with a magnet or coils at the other end (see phono cartridge). A wide variety of cartridge styles have been used over the years, and there are a huge number of replacement styli available on the market. For more information, visit Jerry Raskin's Needle Doctor at www.needledoctor.com.
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| When Needles Were Needles |
|---|
| The steel needles at the top were used in old Victrola 78 record players like the unit underneath. They were later replaced with sapphire tips to last longer. The "needle" name obviously came from the long shape of the first styli. (Top image courtesy of Jerry Raskin's Needle Doctor, www.needledoctor.com) |
 |
| When Needles Were Needles |
|---|
| The steel needles at the top were used in old Victrola 78 record players like the unit underneath. They were later replaced with sapphire tips to last longer. The "needle" name obviously came from the long shape of the first styli. (Top image courtesy of Jerry Raskin's Needle Doctor, www.needledoctor.com) |
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| A Modern Stylus |
|---|
| The stylus on this Grado magnetic phono cartridge is diamond tipped. Vibrating in the vinyl record's groove, the stylus transfers the oscillations to the cantilever and magnets. (Image courtesy of Grado Laboratories, www.gradolabs.com) |
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