nettle

Plural: nettles

Noun

• any of numerous plants having stinging hairs that cause skin irritation on contact (especially of the genus Urtica or family Urticaceae)
• Any plant whose foliage is covered with stinging, mildly poisonous hairs, causing an instant rash.
• Especially, most species of herb genus Urtica, stinging nettles:
• Most, but not all, subspecies of Urtica dioica (common nettle),
• Any plant whose foliage is covered with stinging, mildly poisonous hairs, causing an instant rash.
• Especially, most species of herb genus Urtica, stinging nettles:
• Urtica incisa (Australian nettle);
• Any plant whose foliage is covered with stinging, mildly poisonous hairs, causing an instant rash.
• Wood nettle (Laportea canadensis);
• Any plant whose foliage is covered with stinging, mildly poisonous hairs, causing an instant rash.
• Bull nettles and spurge nettles (Cnidoscolus spp.):
• Cnidoscolus stimulosus, bull nettle, spurge nettle,
• Any plant whose foliage is covered with stinging, mildly poisonous hairs, causing an instant rash.
• Bull nettles and spurge nettles (Cnidoscolus spp.):
• Cnidoscolus texanus, Texas bull nettle,
• Any plant whose foliage is covered with stinging, mildly poisonous hairs, causing an instant rash.
• Bull nettles and spurge nettles (Cnidoscolus spp.):
• Cnidoscolus urens, bull nettle,
• Any plant whose foliage is covered with stinging, mildly poisonous hairs, causing an instant rash.
• Bull nettles and spurge nettles (Cnidoscolus spp.):
• Nettle trees or tree nettles:
• Various species of the genus Dendrocnide
• Any plant whose foliage is covered with stinging, mildly poisonous hairs, causing an instant rash.
• Bull nettles and spurge nettles (Cnidoscolus spp.):
• Nettle trees or tree nettles:
• Urera baccifera (scratchbush),
• Any plant whose foliage is covered with stinging, mildly poisonous hairs, causing an instant rash.
• Bull nettles and spurge nettles (Cnidoscolus spp.):
• Nettle trees or tree nettles:
• Urtica ferox (tree nettle);
• Any plant whose foliage is covered with stinging, mildly poisonous hairs, causing an instant rash.
• rock nettle (Eucnide spp.);
• Any plant whose foliage is covered with stinging, mildly poisonous hairs, causing an instant rash.
• small-leaved nettle (Dendrocnide photinophylla).
• Certain plants that have spines or prickles:
• ball nettle (Solanum carolinense);
• Certain plants that have spines or prickles:
• Solanum elaeagnifolium, bull nettle, silver-leaf nettle, white horse-nettle;
• Certain plants that have spines or prickles:
• Solanum dimidiatum, western horse-nettle, robust horse-nettle;
• Certain plants that have spines or prickles:
• Solanum rostratum, horse-nettle;
• Certain plants that have spines or prickles:
• Celtis (hackberry).
• Certain non-stinging plants, mostly in the family Lamiaceae, that resemble the species of Urtica:
• dead nettle, dumb nettle (Lamium spp.), particularly Lamium album, white nettle;
• Certain non-stinging plants, mostly in the family Lamiaceae, that resemble the species of Urtica:
• false nettle (Boehmeria spp., family Urticaceae);
• Certain non-stinging plants, mostly in the family Lamiaceae, that resemble the species of Urtica:
• flame nettle or painted nettle (Coleus spp.);
• Certain non-stinging plants, mostly in the family Lamiaceae, that resemble the species of Urtica:
• hedge nettle (Stachys spp.);
• Certain non-stinging plants, mostly in the family Lamiaceae, that resemble the species of Urtica:
• hemp nettle (Galeopsis spp.);
• Certain non-stinging plants, mostly in the family Lamiaceae, that resemble the species of Urtica:
• horse nettle Agastache urticifolia,
• Certain non-stinging plants, mostly in the family Lamiaceae, that resemble the species of Urtica:
• nilgiri nettle, Himalayan giant nettle (Girardinia diversifolia, family Urticaceae).
• Loosely, anything which causes a similarly stinging rash, such as a jellyfish or sea nettle.

Verb

Verb Forms: nettled, nettling, nettles

• To irritate, annoy, or provoke someone.
• sting with or as with nettles and cause a stinging pain or sensation
• cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations
• Of the nettle plant and similar physical causes, to sting, causing a rash in someone.
• To pique, irritate, vex or provoke.

Examples

• Her opponent’s constant challenging of valid words began to nettle her.
• The children were badly nettled after playing in the field.

Synonyms

annoy, bother, chafe, devil, get at, get to, gravel, irritate, nark, rag, rile, urticate, vex

Anagrams of nettle