different between stinging vs piercing

English

Etymology

From Middle English styngyng; equivalent to sting +? -ing.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?st????/
• Rhymes: -????

Adjective

stinging (comparative more stinging, superlative most stinging)

1. Having the capacity to sting.

   stinging nettles

2. (figuratively) Precise and hurtful
   • 2017 September 27, David Browne, "Hugh Hefner, 'Playboy' Founder, Dead at 91," Rolling Stone

     That same year, a young Gloria Steinem went undercover as a Playboy Bunny at one of his Playboy Clubs and wrote a stinging inside critique of the magazine's ethos and chauvinism in an article, titled "A Bunny's Tale," which was published in Show magazine.

Derived terms

• stingingly

Verb

stinging

1. present participle of sting

Noun

stinging (plural stingings)

1. The act by which someone receives a sting.

   the stingings of scorpions

   stingings of remorse

English

Etymology

pierce +? -ing

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?p??s??/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?p??s??/
• Rhymes: -??(?)s??
• Hyphenation: piercing

Verb

piercing

1. present participle of pierce

Noun

piercing (countable and uncountable, plural piercings)

1. (uncountable) The action of the verb to pierce.
2. A hole made in the body so that jewellery/jewelry can be worn through it.

   ear piercing

3. An item of jewelry designed to be fitted through a piercing.

Translations

Adjective

piercing (comparative more piercing, superlative most piercing)

1. Appearing to look deeply into; penetrating.

   piercing eyes

2. Of temperature, extremely cold so that it penetrates through clothing and shelter.
3. Of sound, loud and sharp; shrill.

   The piercing noise of the children could be heard two blocks from the elementary school.

Derived terms

• armour-piercing, armor-piercing

Translations

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from English piercing.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?pi?r.s??/
• Hyphenation: pier?cing

Noun

piercing m (plural piercings, diminutive piercinkje n)

1. piercing (ornament)

Derived terms

• lippiercing
• navelpiercing
• neuspiercing
• tepelpiercing
• wenkbrauwpiercing

French

Etymology

Borrowed from English piercing.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pj??.si?/

Noun

piercing m (plural piercings)

1. a piercing

Italian

Etymology

Borrowed from English piercing.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?pir.sin?/, /?pir.sin/
• Hyphenation: pier?cing

Noun

piercing m (invariable)

1. piercing (jewellery worn through a hole in the skin or tongue)

Polish

Etymology

From English piercing.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?p?ir.sink/

Noun

piercing m inan

1. piercing (jewellery worn through a hole in the skin or tongue)

Declension

Further reading

• piercing in Wielki s?ownik j?zyka polskiego, Instytut J?zyka Polskiego PAN
• piercing in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Portuguese

Etymology

Borrowed from English piercing.

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /?pi?.s?/

Noun

piercing m (plural piercings)

1. piercing (jewellery worn through a hole in the skin or tongue)

Usage notes

Earrings (brincos) are not considered piercings.

Spanish

Etymology

From English piercing.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?pi?sin/, [?pi?.s?n]

Noun

piercing m (plural piercings)

1. piercing

Swedish

Etymology

Borrowed from English piercing.

Noun

piercing c

1. piercing (body art)

Declension

Derived terms

• ansiktspiercing
• kroppspiercing