prick

American  

[prik] / prɪk /

noun

1. a puncture made by a needle, thorn, or the like.

2. a sharp point; prickle.

3. the act of pricking.

   the prick of a needle.

4. the state or sensation of being pricked.

5. a sharp pain caused by or as if by being pricked; twinge.

6. the pointed end of a prickspur.

7. Slang: Vulgar.

   1. penis.

   2. an obnoxious or contemptible person.

8. Archaic. a goad for oxen.

9. Obsolete. a small or minute mark, a dot, or a point.

10. Obsolete. any pointed instrument or weapon.

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verb (used with object)

1. to pierce with a sharp point; puncture.

2. to affect with sharp pain, as from piercing.

3. to cause sharp mental pain to; sting, as with remorse, anger, etc..

   His conscience pricked him.

4. to urge on with or as if with a goad or spur.

   My duty pricks me on.

5. to mark (a surface) with pricks or dots in tracing something.

6. to mark or trace (something) on a surface by pricks or dots.

7. to cause to stand erect or point upward (usually followed byup ).

   The dog pricked his ears at the sound of the bell.

8. Farriery.

   1. to lame (a horse) by driving a nail improperly into its hoof.

   2. to nick.

      to prick a horse's tail.

9. to measure (distance, the size of an area, etc.) on a chart with dividers (usually followed byoff ).

10. Horticulture. to transplant (a seedling) into a container that provides more room for growth (usually followed by out oroff ).

verb (used without object)

1. to perform the action of piercing or puncturing something.

2. to have a sensation of being pricked.

3. to spur or urge a horse on; ride rapidly.

4. to rise erect or point upward, as the ears of an animal (usually followed byup ).

idioms

1. kick against the pricks, to resist incontestable facts or authority; protest uselessly.

   In appealing the case again, you will just be kicking against the pricks.

2. prick up one's ears, to become very alert; listen attentively.

   The reporter pricked up his ears at the prospect of a scoop.

prick British  

/ prɪk /

verb

1. 1. to make (a small hole) in (something) by piercing lightly with a sharp point

   2. to wound in this manner

2. (intr) to cause or have a piercing or stinging sensation

3. to cause to feel a sharp emotional pain

   knowledge of such poverty pricked his conscience

4. to puncture or pierce

5. to mark, delineate, or outline by dots or punctures

6. to rise or raise erect; point

   the dog pricked his ears up at his master's call

7. to transplant (seedlings) into a larger container

8. (often foll by off) nautical to measure or trace (a course, distance, etc) on a chart with dividers

9. archaic to rouse or impel; urge on

10. archaic (intr) to ride fast on horseback; spur a horse on

11. to start to listen attentively; become interested

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noun

1. the act of pricking or the condition or sensation of being pricked

2. a mark made by a sharp point; puncture

3. a sharp emotional pain resembling the physical pain caused by being pricked

   a prick of conscience

4. a taboo slang word for penis

5. slang an obnoxious or despicable man

6. an instrument or weapon with a sharp point, such as a thorn, goad, bee sting, etc

7. the footprint or track of an animal, esp a hare

8. obsolete a small mark caused by pricking a surface; dot; point

9. to hurt oneself by struggling against something in vain

Other Word Forms

• pricker noun
• prickingly adverb
• unpricked adjective

Etymology

Origin of prick

before 1000; (noun) Middle English prike; Old English prica, price dot, point; (v.) Middle English priken, Old English prician; cognate with Dutch, Low German prik point

Example Sentences

“Every second,” he replied, tears pricking his one good eye.

From Literature

He divided up the arrows, pricking his fingers on the sharp flint points.

From Literature

And in my head I was already trotting off, looking for that stick, even though I could smell the stink and the thorns were pricking me.

From Literature

My nails had grown back, and whenever I brushed my face with my fingers, I could feel hair pricking through the skin on my chin and cheeks.

From Literature

It is only then, once you are still, that a now low, whipping wind, riddled with sand begins pricking and abrading your skin and collecting in the pages of your novel; it is intolerable.

From Salon

Related Words

• puncture
• slit