stitch

[ stich ]

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.

verb (used with object)

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

   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)

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

stitch

/ 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. drop a stitch
   drop a stitch to allow a loop of wool to fall off a knitting needle accidentally while knitting
8. in stitches informal.
   in stitches laughing uncontrollably

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. See suture
   an informal word for suture suture

Derived Forms

• ˈstitcher, noun

Other Words From

• stitcher noun
• stitchlike adjective
• re·stitch verb (used with object)
• un·stitch verb
• un·stitched adjective
• well-stitched adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stitch¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of stitch¹

Old English stice sting; related to Old Frisian steke, Old High German stih, Gothic stiks, Old Norse tikta sharp

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in stitches, convulsed with laughter:

   The comedian had us in stitches all evening.

More idioms and phrases containing stitch

In addition to the idiom beginning with stitch , also see in stitches ; without a stitch on .

Example Sentences

This project is fast and simple, though it does require some basic knowledge of knitting stitches and terms.

From Popular-Science

She hopes to develop a catalog of stitch types, their combinations and the resulting fabric properties.

From Science News

The mode Cultists vs Ghost Hunter is a great example of a very silly set of rules that often leaves us in stitches for the entirety of a match.

From Washington Post

I was happy to still be alive, and after surgery, some facial skin grafts, lots of stitches, a couple of bones snapped back into place and several follow-ups with doctors, I was as good as new.

From Ozy

In 1990, he recalled, the US textile industry produced 60% of the “cut & sew” apparel made worldwide—that is, clothing with stitches on the seams, as opposed to knitted wool sweaters or rain gear whose pieces are welded together with heat.

From MIT Technology Review

In that way that was cathartic too, to sort of stitch up all those pieces and see how that is.

From The Daily Beast

In fact, by the way he challenged my thoughts on the case, I thought perhaps he was aiming to stitch up the media.

From The Daily Beast

Advice that was given me by Florence Ridley, a professor in graduate school: Stitch, stitch.

From The Daily Beast

Also, by carrying an M-4 carbine, everybody knew I was carrying something that could stitch even U.S. body armor.

From The Daily Beast

He just needs to stitch together all the threads into a coherent vision of the future that includes a vibrant economy.

From The Daily Beast

Net five rows, then take a mesh a very little larger, and widen by netting two stitches in every stitch.

From Project Gutenberg

But Tilly only laughed, and Cordelia forgot her question with the last stitch she put into her tassel.

From Project Gutenberg

It gives order to the thoughts, fixes by a stitch the moment that passes what would otherwise pass with it.

From Project Gutenberg

An' so when I went courtin' m' third wife, I took a stitch in time an' told her about the camphor an' ker'sene an' lard.

From Project Gutenberg

In making the buttonhole stitch, keep the needle close against the metal edge of the guide, as shown.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• fasten
• sew