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Glite Dictionary
needlenose pliers

needlenose pliers

3.8
A small tool with long, thin jaws for holding or bending small objects
  • noun
  • /ˈnidlˌnoʊz ˈplaɪərz/
translation icon : alicates de punta fina
  • He grabbed the small part with needlenose pliers to adjust it in the tight space of the model's engine.

Examples

  • Using a pair of needlenose pliers, he draws the wire through her pale skin with a delicate hand.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Many anglers recommend carrying needlenose pliers in their tackle box for handling small hooks and lures.

  • To fix the broken jewelry, she carefully used needlenose pliers to bend the tiny wires into shape.

Synonyms

pliers
vsneedlenose pliers
2.3

A small tool with two long metal arms joined at one end used to hold, bend, or cut things

is a small tool with long thin jaws for manipulating small, delicate objects

How Adjustable

slip-joint pliers
  • Specialized
5.6
needlenose pliers
3.8

Surface Forms

needlenose pliers singular
needlenose pliers plural

Morphology

needlenose + pliers

The compound is directly interpretable from its parts: 'needle' (thin, pointed) + 'nose' (front/point) combined with 'pliers' (a gripping tool) yields pliers with long, thin jaws for fine work. Even if written as 'needlenose', the metaphorical 'needle‑like nose' is straightforward and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can infer the meaning.

Etymology

The tool needlenose pliers got their name because their long, thin tips look like a needle or a narrow nose, so they can reach into tight spaces. That's why the name is used for a small tool for 'gripping' and bending very small parts.