nettle

Everyday

1. A wild plant with jagged leaves covered in tiny hairs that sting and cause an itchy, burning rash when they touch your skin. tree →
2. As a verb, to nettle someone means to annoy them a little. tree →

In the lessons

In science and outdoor safety, stinging nettles grow in hedges, woods and waste ground in the UK, Ireland, North America, Australia and New Zealand. The tiny hairs inject chemicals that cause white bumps and stinging; it usually goes away in a day. Wear long trousers on walks; wash the area and do not scratch. Many people rub dock leaves on nettle stings, though it may only help by distracting you. Butterflies like the peacock lay eggs on nettles, and cooked nettles can be eaten as soup. Phrases: "stinging nettle", "nettle sting", "grasp the nettle" (deal with a problem bravely).

Examples

• I fell into a patch of stinging nettles. tree →
• The nettle sting left itchy white bumps on my leg. tree →
• Wear long trousers to walk through nettles. tree →
• Caterpillars of the peacock butterfly eat nettles. tree →
• Grandma makes soup from young nettle leaves, cooked so they don't sting. tree →
• We rubbed a dock leaf on the nettle sting. tree →
• Nettles have tiny hairs that sting. tree →
• His teasing nettled her. tree →
• All around grew nettles and tall grass. tree →

Note

Countable: a nettle, nettles. Spelling: double t. Cooking or drying nettles stops the sting. "Grasp the nettle" means tackle a hard problem directly. Nettle stings are usually mild, but if someone has trouble breathing or a big reaction, get an adult quickly.

In Jewish tradition

In science and outdoor safety, stinging nettles grow in hedges, woods and waste ground in the UK, Ireland, North America, Australia and New Zealand. The tiny hairs inject chemicals that cause white bumps and stinging; it usually goes away in a day. Wear long trousers on walks; wash the area and do not scratch. Many people rub dock leaves on nettle stings, though it may only help by distracting you. Butterflies like the peacock lay eggs on nettles, and cooked nettles can be eaten as soup. Phrases: "stinging nettle", "nettle sting", "grasp the nettle" (deal with a problem bravely).

Examples

• Among the bushes they bray; under the nettles they are gathered together. (Writings JOB.30.7, JPS 1917) tree →
• And, lo, it was all grown over with thistles, the face thereof was covered with nettles, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. (Writings PRO.24.31, JPS 1917) tree →
• And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and thistles in the fortresses thereof; and it shall be a habitation of wild-dogs, an enclosure for ostriches. (Prophets ISA.34.13, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable: a nettle, nettles. Spelling: double t. Cooking or drying nettles stops the sting. "Grasp the nettle" means tackle a hard problem directly. Nettle stings are usually mild, but if someone has trouble breathing or a big reaction, get an adult quickly.