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stinging hair: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Low
UK/ˈstɪŋ.ɪŋ heə(r)/US/ˈstɪŋ.ɪŋ hɛr/

Technical / Scientific (Botany, Zoology); Informal in everyday contexts when discussing plants like nettles.

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Quick answer

What does “stinging hair” mean?

A specialized hollow hair on a plant (e.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A specialized hollow hair on a plant (e.g., a nettle) or animal (e.g., a caterpillar) that delivers a painful, irritating chemical when touched.

Can refer figuratively to any sharp, painful, or caustic criticism or remark, though this use is less common.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant lexical differences. The plants/animals possessing them (e.g., stinging nettle) are common in both regions.

Connotations

Neutral and descriptive in technical contexts. In everyday UK English, strongly associated with the common nettle and childhood experiences.

Frequency

Slightly more frequent in UK English due to the prevalence of stinging nettles in the countryside.

Grammar

How to Use “stinging hair” in a Sentence

[Plant/Animal] + has/possesses/bears + stinging hairs[Person] + touched/brushed against + the stinging hairs

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
stinging nettleurticating hairbrush againsttiny stinging hair
medium
covered in stinging hairsrelease via stinging hairsdefensive stinging hairs
weak
avoid the stinging hairspain from a stinging hairplant with stinging hairs

Examples

Examples of “stinging hair” in a Sentence

adjective

British English

  • The stinging-hair mechanism is fascinating.
  • A stinging-hair caterpillar.

American English

  • The stinging-hair defense is effective.
  • A stinging-hair plant species.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Not applicable.

Academic

Common in botanical and zoological texts, research papers on plant defense mechanisms.

Everyday

Used when describing an encounter with nettles or similar irritating plants. 'I got stung by a nettle's hairs.'

Technical

Precise term in plant morphology and entomology for a specific type of defensive trichome or seta.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “stinging hair”

Strong

urticator

Neutral

urticating hair (technical)stinging bristle

Weak

irritating hairpainful hair

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “stinging hair”

soft hairdownnon-irritating trichomeharmless bristle

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “stinging hair”

  • Misspelling as 'stingy hair' (which would mean 'miserly hair').
  • Using as a verb, e.g., 'The plant stinging-haired me.' (Incorrect).

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Thorns are modified branches (like on a rose) that cause physical puncture wounds. Stinging hairs are specialized hairs that inject chemicals.

Sometimes, but they are often very small. They may look like a fine, translucent fuzz on a leaf or stem.

Wash the area with soap and water. Applying a cool compress or a paste of baking soda and water can help soothe the irritation. Avoid scratching.

No. Stinging nettles have both ordinary, non-stinging hairs and the fewer, larger specialized stinging hairs.

A specialized hollow hair on a plant (e.

Stinging hair is usually technical / scientific (botany, zoology); informal in everyday contexts when discussing plants like nettles. in register.

Stinging hair: in British English it is pronounced /ˈstɪŋ.ɪŋ heə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈstɪŋ.ɪŋ hɛr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “None common for this specific term.”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Imagine a tiny hypodermic needle shaped like a HAIR that STINGs you. Stinging Hair = Nature's tiny injector.

Conceptual Metaphor

A NATURAL SYRINGE / A DEFENSIVE NEEDLE.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
Wear long sleeves while hiking to protect your skin from the on that plant.
Multiple Choice

What is the primary function of a stinging hair?

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