stitch

American  

[stich] / stɪtʃ /

noun

1. one complete movement of a threaded needle through a fabric or material such as to leave behind it a single loop or portion of thread, as in sewing, embroidery, or the surgical closing of wounds.

2. a loop or portion of thread disposed in place by one such movement in sewing.

   to rip out stitches.

3. a particular mode of disposing the thread in sewing or the style of work produced by one such method.

4. one complete movement of the needle or other implement used in knitting, crocheting, netting, tatting, etc.

5. the portion of work produced.

6. a thread, bit, or piece of any fabric or of clothing.

   to remove every stitch of clothes.

7. the least bit of anything.

   He wouldn't do a stitch of work.

8. a sudden, sharp pain, especially in the intercostal muscles.

   a stitch in the side.

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verb (used with object)

stitches, present (3rd person singular) stitched, past participle, past stitching present participle

1. to work upon, join, mend, or fasten with or as if with stitches; sew (often followed bytogether ).

   to stitch together flour sacks to make curtains; a plan that was barely stitched together.

2. to ornament or embellish with stitches.

   to stitch a shirt with a monogram.

verb (used without object)

stitches, present (3rd person singular) stitched, past participle, past stitching present participle

1. to make stitches, join together, or sew.

idioms

1. in stitches, convulsed with laughter.

   The comedian had us in stitches all evening.

stitch British  

/ stɪtʃ /

noun

1. a link made by drawing a thread through material by means of a needle

2. a loop of yarn formed around an implement used in knitting, crocheting, etc

3. a particular method of stitching or shape of stitch

4. a sharp spasmodic pain in the side resulting from running or exercising

5. informal (usually used with a negative) the least fragment of clothing

   he wasn't wearing a stitch

6. agriculture the ridge between two furrows

7. to allow a loop of wool to fall off a knitting needle accidentally while knitting

8. informal laughing uncontrollably

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verb

1. (tr) to sew, fasten, etc, with stitches

2. (intr) to be engaged in sewing

3. (tr) to bind together (the leaves of a book, pamphlet, etc) with wire staples or thread

noun

1. an informal word for suture suture

stitch More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing stitch

• in stitches
• without a stitch on

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unstitch
  verb
• unstitched
  adjective
• well-stitched
  adjective
• stitcher
  noun
• stitchlike
  adjective
• restitch
  verb (used with object)

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has stitched
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have stitched
  perfect
• is stitching
  progressive 3rd person singular
• stitching
  participle
• am stitching
  progressive 1st person singular
• stitches
  singular 3rd person
• have been stitching
  perfect progressive
• are stitching
  progressive
• has been stitching
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular

Past

• had stitched
  perfect
• were stitching
  progressive plural
• stitched
  simple
• was stitching
  progressive singular
• stitched
  participle
• had been stitching
  perfect progressive

Future

• will stitch
  simple
• will have stitched
  perfect
• will have been stitching
  perfect progressive
• will be stitching
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of stitch

before 900; (noun) Middle English stiche, Old English stice a thrust, stab; cognate with German Stich prick; akin to stick ²; (v.) Middle English stichen to stab, pierce, derivative of the noun

Explanation

When a needle pulls thread through fabric and into a loop, that's a stitch. Every quilt, no matter how elaborate, starts with a single stitch. You can stitch a design on a pillow, or stitch up a hole in your jeans using stitches. Doctors sometimes stitch up patients' skin, too — if you cut yourself badly enough, you might need stitches. Another kind of stitch is a painful cramp in your stomach or side: "I stopped running when I got a stitch." If someone says, "I haven't got a stitch to wear," they're short on clothing. And being "in stitches" means laughing uncontrollably.

Example Sentences

Robbins says she learned to operate industrial sewing machines, which stitch much faster than home machines, create blind hems where the stitching is essentially invisible, and can cuff a blazer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

In Iraq and Afghanistan, soldiers were still mapping networks of insurgents and roadside bombs by hand until FDEs arrived to stitch together PowerPoints and memos into a centralized intelligence platform.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 4, 2026

Dr. Louis Durkin, president of the Association of Ringside Physicians, who is also a stitch doctor for BKB, shared data from a study conducted by the ARP in 2025.

From BBC • Feb. 20, 2026

Like Victor Frankenstein, who diligently selects body parts from corpses to stitch together his humanoid creation, the Mexican director carefully assembled his troupe of movie magicians.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2026

His limbs were shaking, a terrible stitch was beginning in his side, and the sweat that kept dropping into his eyes blinded them and made them smart.

From "The Horse and His Boy" by C.S. Lewis

Related Words

• fasten
• sew