stitch

I UK [stɪtʃ] / US noun
Word forms "stitch":
singular stitch plural stitches
**

1) [countable] a short piece of thread that you can see on cloth when it has been sewn

I put a couple of stitches in just to hold the ends together.

a) [countable] a piece of wool that has been put round a needle when you are knitting

The shawl was knitted with beautiful neat stitches.

drop a stitch (= let it fall off the needle accidentally)

b) [countable/uncountable] a particular way of making the stitches when you are sewing or knitting

I can sew, but I can't do any of the fancy stitches.

2) [countable] a short piece of thread that is used for joining someone's skin together after it has been cut

The cut over his left eye needed 12 stitches.

3) [singular/uncountable] a sharp pain in the side of your body that you sometimes feel when you are running

I got a stitch and had to stop running.

•

a stitch in time (saves nine) — spoken used for saying that it is better to solve a problem now, rather than leave it until later when it may be more difficult to deal with

- in stitches

- not have a stitch on

II UK [stɪtʃ] / US verb [transitive]
Word forms "stitch":
present tense I/you/we/they stitch he/she/it stitches present participle stitching past tense stitched past participle stitched

1) to join pieces of cloth together by sewing them

They stitched red and blue ribbons onto their hats.

2) to join someone's skin together after it has been cut

Surgeons managed to stitch his finger back on.

Phrasal verbs:

- stitch up