1. A sharp organ of offence or defence (as of a wasp or stingray or scorpion) often connected with a poison gland
   "The bee's stinger remained embedded in the skin"
    
2. An insect, animal or plant that stings
   "The wasp is a common stinger in many gardens"
    
3. A remark capable of wounding mentally
   "His cutting remark about her appearance was a real stinger";
   - cut, burn [informal]
    
4. [informal] A sharp stinging blow
   "The boxer landed a stinger on his opponent's jaw"
    
5. A cocktail made of crème de menthe and brandy
   "The stinger was popular in the mid-20th century"

1. A portable low altitude surface-to-air missile system using infrared guidance and an impact fuse; fired from the shoulder

Derived forms: Stingers, stingers

Type of: abuse, blow, cocktail, contumely [archaic], heat-seeking missile, insult, organ, revilement, SAM, surface-to-air missile, vilification

Encyclopedia: Stinger, The