Pronunciation: [nˈiːdə͡lz] (IPA) 
The English word "Needles" is spelled as /ˈniːdəlz/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The first syllable is pronounced with a long "e" sound and the second syllable is pronounced with a short "i" sound. The letters "d" and "l" are pronounced softly, merging into a single consonant sound. The final "s" is pronounced as an unvoiced "z" sound. "Needles" is a plural noun and refers to small sharp pointed tools used for sewing or knitting.
Needles is a noun that refers to slender, pointed objects typically made of metal, used for a variety of purposes. It can first and foremost allude to the small sharp tools employed in sewing, knitting, and other textile activities. These sewing needles possess an eye through which thread is threaded and a sharp, tapered end that effortlessly pierces fabric. They come in various lengths and sizes depending on the intended use and can be straight or curved.
Additionally, "needles" can refer to the similar sharp objects used in medical contexts, known as hypodermic needles. These are hollow, cylindrical instruments that painlessly penetrate the skin to administer injections, extract fluids, or draw blood samples.
The term can also describe the stiff, sharp spines found on certain plants, particularly coniferous trees such as pine. These needles serve as the leaves of the plant and are often long and slender, capable of persisting throughout the year.
Figuratively, "needles" can be used as a verb meaning to provoke or taunt someone, often playfully or antagonistically. It implies deliberately provoking a reaction or eliciting a response, usually through teasing or prodding.
Overall, "needles" encompasses a versatile range of sharp, pointed objects used in sewing, medical procedures, as plant foliage, or even metaphorically to describe teasing or provocation.
A term applied to detached masses of rock standing out from cliffs or shores, as the Needles off the Isle of Wight.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "needles" has multiple potential etymological roots depending on the context.
1. As a noun referring to small, pointed instruments used in sewing or medical procedures, the word "needle" is derived from the Old English word "nǣdl", which can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "*nēdlą". This Proto-Germanic term, in turn, is believed to have derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*neh₂d-", meaning "to sew" or "to bind".
2. As a plural noun referring to small, slender spikes of rock, the word "needles" is derived from the Old English word "nǣdl" as well. It is related to the Middle Dutch word "nedele" and the Middle Low German word "nēdel", all of which refer to rocks or cliffs shaped like needles.
