[stɪŋ], (Noun)

Definitions:
- 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

- a carefully planned operation, typically one involving deception
(e.g: five blackmailers were jailed last week after they were snared in a police sting)


Phrases:
- sting in the tail

Origin:
Old English sting (noun), stingan (verb), of Germanic origin

[stɪŋ], (Verb)

Definitions:
- wound or pierce with a sting
(e.g: he was stung by a jellyfish)

- swindle or exorbitantly overcharge (someone)
(e.g: I had to buy some boxer shorts at the last minute and got stung for £42.50!)


Phrases:
- sting in the tail

Origin:
Old English sting (noun), stingan (verb), of Germanic origin