Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun An abnormal fear of sharply pointed objects, especially needles.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun An irrational fear of needles and pins, usually resulting in abnormal behavior and anxiety.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Greek belonē, needle; see gwelə- in Indo-European roots + –phobia.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Surface form belone +‎ -phobia. From Ancient Greek βελόνη (belónē, "needle") + φόβος (phóbos, "fear").

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Examples

  • The correct medical name is trypanophobia - an irrational and often intense fear of hypodermic needles or injections - though it is regularly labelled belonephobia, this term is incorrect since it denotes a fear of pins and needles, without reference to the medical aspects.

    unknown title 2009

Comments

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  • i hate to needle you

    January 27, 2007

  • Help may be at hand!

    February 3, 2008