prickle

American  

[prik-uhl] / ˈprɪk əl /

noun

1. a sharp point.

2. a small, pointed process growing from the bark of a plant.

3. a sharp process or projection, as from the skin of an animal; a spine.

4. a pricking sensation.

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verb (used with object)

prickled, prickling

1. to prick lightly.

2. to cause a pricking or tingling sensation in.

verb (used without object)

prickled, prickling

1. to tingle as if pricked.

prickle British  

/ ˈprɪkəl /

noun

1. botany a pointed process arising from the outer layer of a stem, leaf, etc, and containing no woody or conducting tissue Compare thorn

2. a pricking or stinging sensation

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verb

1. to feel or cause to feel a stinging sensation

2. (tr) to prick, as with a thorn

Other Word Forms

• unprickled adjective

Etymology

Origin of prickle

before 950; Middle English prykel (noun), Old English pricel. See prick, -le

Example Sentences

“It made the back of my neck prickle from its first pages, and that feeling never went away,” wrote New York Times reviewer Dwight Garner.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 19, 2022

As he signed in, the 30-year-old felt a prickle of hope.

From Washington Post • May 7, 2022

Good ghost stories are hard to spoil; even if you give away the surprises, you can’t unfeel the prickle on your neck.

From New York Times • Dec. 12, 2019

The thin howling of the wind, the prickle of stars in the dark heavens.

From The Guardian • Feb. 10, 2018

Constance could feel her hackles beginning to prickle.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques