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Ache vs Sting - What's the difference?

ache | sting | Related terms |

Ache is a related term of sting.


As a proper noun ache

is a language spoken by the yi people of south-western china.

As a noun sting is

a bump left on the skin after having been stung.

As a verb sting is

to hurt, usually by introducing poison or a sharp point, or both.

ache

English

Alternative forms

* (obsolete)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) due to the similarity in form and meaning of the two words.

Verb

  • To suffer pain; to be the source of, or be in, pain, especially continued dull pain; to be distressed.
  • * Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet , Act II, Scene V:
    • Fie, how my bones ache!
  • * , chapter=7
    • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=The turmoil went on—no rest, no peace. […] It was nearly eleven o'clock now, and he strolled out again. In the little fair created by the costers' barrows the evening only seemed beginning; and the naphtha flares made one's eyes ache , the men's voices grated harshly, and the girls' faces saddened one.}}
  • (transitive, literary, rare) To cause someone or something to suffer pain.
    • Derived terms
    * ache for

    See also

    * (l)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Continued dull pain, as distinguished from sudden twinges, or spasmodic pain.
  • * Shakespeare, The Tempest , Act I, Scene II:
    • Fill all thy bones with aches .
    Derived terms
    * aches and pains * achy * backache * bellyache * earache * headache * stomachache * toothache

    References

    * Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 5th edition.

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) and modern (etyl) ache, from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) Parsley.

    • Etymology 3

    Representing the pronunciation of the letter H .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (rare) A variant spelling of aitch .

    • Anagrams

    * English heteronyms ---- ==Jèrriais==

    Noun

  • wild celery

    • Synonyms

    * ----

    sting

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A bump left on the skin after having been stung.
  • A bite by an insect.
  • A pointed portion of an insect or arachnid used for attack.
  • A sharp, localised pain primarily on the epidermis
  • (botany) A sharp-pointed hollow hair seated on a gland which secretes an acrid fluid, as in nettles.
  • The thrust of a sting into the flesh; the act of stinging; a wound inflicted by stinging.
  • * Shakespeare
    • the lurking serpent's mortal sting
  • (law enforcement) A police operation in which the police pretend to be criminals in order to catch a criminal.
  • A short percussive phrase played by a drummer to accent the punchline in a comedy show.
  • A brief sequence of music used in films, TV as a form of punctuation in a dramatic or comedic scene. In certain videogames stings are used to predict immediate future actions or to illustrate a current tension or mood.
  • A support for a wind tunnel model which extends parallel to the air flow.
  • *
  • (figurative) The harmful or painful part of something.
  • * Bible, 1 Corinthians xv. 56
    • The sting of death is sin.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=January 19 , author=Jonathan Stevenson , title=Leeds 1 - 3 Arsenal , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=Just as it appeared Arsenal had taken the sting out of the tie, Johnson produced a moment of outrageous quality, thundering a bullet of a left foot shot out of the blue and into the top left-hand corner of Wojciech Szczesny's net with the Pole grasping at thin air. }}
  • A goad; incitement.
    • (Shakespeare)
  • The point of an epigram or other sarcastic saying.
    • Synonyms
    * (pointed portion of an insect) stinger

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) stingen, from (etyl) . Compare Swedish and Icelandic stinga.

    Verb

  • To hurt, usually by introducing poison or a sharp point, or both.
    • Right so came out an adder of a little heathbush, and it stung a knight in the foot.
    Still, it stung when a slightly older acquaintance asked me why I couldn't do any better.
  • (of an insect) To bite.
  • (sometimes figurative) To hurt, to be in pain.
    • My hand stings after knocking on the door so long.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=January 11 , author=Jonathan Stevenson , title=West Ham 2 - 1 Birmingham , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=But Birmingham were clearly stung by some harsh words from manager Alex McLeish at the break and within 15 minutes of the restart the game had an entirely different complexion.}}
  • (figurative) To cause harm or pain to.
    • I thought I could park in front of the hotel, but they stung me for five pounds!
    Derived terms
    * sting like a bee * stingy

    Anagrams

    * English irregular verbs ----