- 1[countable] one of the small lines of thread that you can see on a piece of cloth after it has been sewn; the action that produces this Try to keep the stitches small and straight.
- 2[countable] one of the small circles of wool that you make around the needle when you are knitting to drop a stitch (= to lose one that you have made) The knitting should be 120 stitches wide. to cast stitches on/off (= to add or remove them)
- 3[countable, uncountable] (especially in compounds) a particular style of sewing or knitting that you use to make the pattern you want chain stitch
- 4[countable] a short piece of thread, etc. that doctors use to sew the edges of a wound together The cut needed eight stitches. I had six stitches in my foot after the accident. I'm having my stitches out today. Topic CollocationsInjuriesbeing injured
- have a fall/an injury
- receive/suffer/sustain a serious injury/a hairline fracture/a gunshot wound/a concussion/whiplash injuries
- hurt/injure your ankle/back/leg
- damage the brain/an ankle ligament/your liver/the optic nerve/the skin
- pull/strain/tear a hamstring/ligament/muscle/tendon
- sprain/twist your ankle/wrist
- break a bone/your collarbone/your leg/three ribs
- fracture/crack your skull
- break/chip/knock out/lose a tooth
- burst/perforate your eardrum
- dislocate your finger/hip/jaw/shoulder/elbow
- bruise/cut/graze your arm/knee/shoulder
- burn/scald yourself/your tongue
- bang/bump/hit your elbow/head/knee (on/against something)
- treat somebody for burns/a head injury/a stab wound
- examine/clean/dress/bandage/treat a bullet wound
- repair a damaged/torn ligament/tendon/cartilage
- amputate/cut off an arm/a finger/a foot/a leg/a limb
- put on (formal) apply/take off a Band-Aid™/a sterile dressing/a bandage
- need/require/put in/get/take out stitches
- put on/rub on (formal) apply cream/ointment/lotion
- have/receive/undergo physical therapy
- 5[countable, usually singular] a sudden pain in the side of your body, usually caused by running or laughing Can we slow down? I have a stitch. Idioms
laughing a lot The play had us in stitches.
to be naked
it is better to deal with something immediately because if you wait it may become worse or more difficult and cause extra work
Check pronunciation: stitch