prickle
Americannoun
-
a sharp point.
-
a small, pointed process growing from the bark of a plant.
-
a sharp process or projection, as from the skin of an animal; a spine.
-
a pricking sensation.
verb (used with object)
-
to prick lightly.
-
to cause a pricking or tingling sensation in.
verb (used without object)
noun
-
botany a pointed process arising from the outer layer of a stem, leaf, etc, and containing no woody or conducting tissue Compare thorn
-
a pricking or stinging sensation
verb
-
to feel or cause to feel a stinging sensation
-
(tr) to prick, as with a thorn
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of prickle
before 950; Middle English prykel (noun), Old English pricel. See prick, -le
Explanation
A prickle is a thorn or a bramble, a small, sharp place on a plant. When you're climbing over your neighbor's fence to get your Frisbee back, watch out for the prickles on their blackberry bushes! In addition to "thorny spikes," another meaning of prickle is "a pricking or tingling sensation," like the prickle that runs down your back when you hear the eerie sound of a coyote howling near your campground. To prickle is to create this sensation, a feeling that, like the word itself, is a combination of prick and a tickle.
Vocabulary lists containing prickle
Finding Langston
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Little House in the Big Woods
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The House That Lou Built
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In this powerful, poetic lament, Harnage’s bare-chested body seems to prickle as it bends, wobbles and rights itself again.
From New York Times • Nov. 4, 2022
“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
It was the kind of night that caused the skin on the back of David Shew’s neck to prickle.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 14, 2017
My pulse was suddenly hammering in my ears, and I felt a cold sweat prickle down my back.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
