sting sting /ˈstɪŋ/

noun

1. () A kind of pain; something as sudden and painful as being stung  ( stinging , sting )
   a kind of pain; something as sudden and painful as being stung
    The sting of death
   the sting of death
    He felt the stinging of nettles
   he felt the stinging of nettles
   
2. [Informal] Operation designed to catch a person committing a criminal act  ( sting [Informal] , sting operation )
   operation designed to catch a person committing a criminal act
    The police conducted a sting operation
   the police conducted a sting operation
   
3. [Informal] A swindle in which you cheat at gambling or persuade a person to buy worthless property  ( bunco [Informal, N. American] , bunco game [Informal, N. American] , bunko [Informal, N. American] , bunko game [Informal, N. American] , con [Informal] , confidence game [ N. American] , confidence trick [British] , flimflam [Informal] , hustle [Informal] , con game [Informal, N. American] , sting [Informal] , con trick [Informal, British] )
   a swindle in which you cheat at gambling or persuade a person to buy worthless property
    The unsuspecting tourist fell victim to a con game on his first day in the city.
   The unsuspecting tourist fell victim to a con game on his first day in the city.
   
   
4. A painful wound caused by the thrust of an insect's stinger into skin  ( bite , insect bite , sting )
   a painful wound caused by the thrust of an insect's stinger into skin
   
5. A mental pain or distress  ( pang , sting )
   a mental pain or distress
    A pang of conscience
   a pang of conscience
   

verb

1. () [Informal] Saddle with something disagreeable or disadvantageous  ( stick [Informal] , sting [Informal] )
   saddle with something disagreeable or disadvantageous
    They stuck me with the dinner bill
   They stuck me with the dinner bill
    I was stung with a huge tax bill
   I was stung with a huge tax bill
   
2. () Deliver a sting to  ( bite , prick , sting )
   deliver a sting to
    A bee stung my arm yesterday
   A bee stung my arm yesterday
   
3. () Cause a sharp or stinging pain or discomfort  ( sting , bite , burn )
   cause a sharp or stinging pain or discomfort
    The sun burned his face
   The sun burned his face
   
4. Cause an emotional pain, as if by stinging  ( sting )
   cause an emotional pain, as if by stinging
    His remark stung her
   His remark stung her
   
5. Cause a stinging pain  ( sting , twinge , prick )
   cause a stinging pain
    The needle pricked his skin
   The needle pricked his skin