Needle - Definition and Overview

The word needle has several meanings:

Sewing

• In sewing, a needle is a long, slender, object with a pointed tip, usually made of metal. The first needles were often made of bone or wood. A needle for hand sewing has a hole at the non-pointed end to carry thread or cord through the fabric after the pointed end pierces it. Hand sewing needles have different names depending on their purpose, such as sharps, betweens, ballpoint, embroidery, leather, beading, chenille, upholstery, and tapestry. A sewing machine uses an eye-pointed metal needle (with a hole near the pointed tip).

Medicine

• A hollow needle can be used to inject or extract liquids. See hypodermic needle and syringe.
• Needles are also used to stimulate acupuncture points in acupuncture.

Tattoos

• Tattooing uses both primitive and modern needles. See tattoo, tattoo gun.

Instrumentation

• For mechanical indicators, a needle can be used for reporting or measurement. See dial.

Phonography

• A needle (or more properly, a stylus) is mounted in the arm of a phonograph to play back music recorded on a record or phonograph cylinder. See stylus.

Botany

• The long, slender, pointed leaves of some conifers are often called needles. See the Pinophyta.

Computing

• A needle is a chess engine – a computer program that can play a game of chess.

Weaponry

• Needles were used as hidden weapons in ancient China, hidden under clothing (usually sleeves) and thrown at enemies. Despite it's potential, they are rarely used for assasination. It is considered unethical to use hidden weapons any other purposes than self-defence. Today, Shaolin monks are known to be capable of throwing needles and penetrate 3cm (1.18 inch) of glass during public performances.