- nettle⇄adj. nettlelike.
- nettle⇄expr. grasp the nettle, to attack a difficulty boldly; deal promptly and firmly with a problem.
Ex. The Justices grasped the nettle on Monday and announced that they will rule on Mr. Powell's case (New York Times). - nettle⇄nettle, noun, verb, -tled,-tling.
- nettle⇄noun 1. a kind of plant having sharp bristles on the leaves and stems that sting the skin when touched. It is a widely distributed, coarse herbaceous plant.
Ex. Young shoots of nettles can be cooked and eaten (Arthur Cronquist).
2. any one o - nettle⇄v.t. 1. to sting the mind of; irritate; provoke; vex.
Ex. His insulting remarks nettled me. I was very much nettled by their refusal to help.
(SYN) exasperate, incense, pique.
2. to beat (a person or animal) with nettles.
3. to