词典释义：
1 a small sharp-pointed organ at the end of the abdomen of bees, wasps, ants, and scorpions, capable of inflicting a painful or dangerous wound by injecting poison
（蜜蜂、黄蜂、蚂蚁、蝎子的）螫针，螫刺。
any of a number of minute hairs or other organs of plants, jellyfishes, etc., which inject a poisonous or irritating fluid when touched
（植物、水母等的）刺毛。
a wound from such an animal or plant organ
刺伤，蜇伤
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a wasp or bee sting .黄蜂或蜜蜂的蜇伤。
a sharp tingling or burning pain or sensation
刺痛；灼痛
-
I felt the sting of the cold, bitter air .我感到寒风刺骨。
[in sing.]
〈喻〉 伤害性；伤害的后果
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I recalled the sting of his betrayal 我回想起他的背叛所造成的伤害
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she smiled to take the sting out of her words .她微微一笑，使自己的话不至于刺痛别人。
2
〈非正式〉 精心策划的行动（尤指骗局、圈套）
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five blackmailers were jailed last week after they were snared in a police sting .五个敲诈勒索者落入了警察的圈套，上个星期被送进了监狱。
1[with obj.] wound or pierce with a sting
刺伤；蜇
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he was stung by a jellyfish 他被水母蜇伤了
-
[ no obj.]
a nettle stings if you brush it lightly .你轻抚荨麻，它就会刺痛你。
2 feel or cause to feel a sharp tingling or burning pain or sensation
（使）感到刺痛；（使）感到灼痛
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[no obj.]
her eyes stung as if she might cry again 她双眼刺痛，似乎又要哭了
-
[with obj.]
the brandy stung his throat 白兰地使他的喉咙感到灼痛
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[ as adj.
stinging ]a stinging pain .刺痛。
[with obj.]
〈喻〉 （尤指说的话）伤害；使心烦
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stung by her mockery, Frank hung his head .为她的嘲弄所伤害，弗兰克低下了头。
(
刺激…做，激励… 做
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he was stung into action by an article in the paper .他受到报纸上一篇文章的刺激而采取了行动。
3[with obj.]
〈非正式〉 敲诈，欺诈；向…索高价
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there were fears that as President he would sting them with stiffer tax bills .有些人担心，他作为总统会向他们征收更高的税。
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sting in the tail an unexpected, typically unpleasant or problematic end to something （尤指令人不快的）意外结局the Budget comes with a sting in the tail—future tax increases . 预算带来一个令人意外的结果——今后税收要提高
"Old English
