knitting needle
Americannoun
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either of two types of instruments used for hand knitting: a straight rod of steel, wood, plastic, etc., pointed at one or both ends, used in pairs, or a single curved, flexible rod with two pointed ends.
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any of various needlelike devices used in machine knitting.
Etymology
Origin of knitting needle
First recorded in 1590–1600
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"It was the knitting needle I brought back from my parents' house. It was also that when I finally miscarried, I didn't know that there would be a placenta to pass."
From BBC • Dec. 12, 2025
It debuted during the 2016 presidential election, and features a skull-and-crossbones motif — the skull in a stockinette stitch, and the bones, a crochet hook and a knitting needle.
From New York Times • May 8, 2020
The women then strung the hearts together, with the flick of a knitting needle, and suspended the creations from a marble urn that commemorates a Mexican freedom fighter.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 24, 2019
The women then strung the hearts together, with the flick of a knitting needle, and suspended the creations from a marble urn that commemorates a Mexican freedom fighter.
From Washington Times • Aug. 24, 2019
The hosts threw their heads back in laughter every few seconds, excited, as the camera panned across the crowd, all of whom seemed equally ecstatic about what looked like a giant knitting needle.
From "We'll Fly Away" by Bryan Bliss
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
