Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense pricks, present participle pricking, past tense, past participle pricked
1. verb
If you prick something or prick holes in it, you make small holes in it with a sharp object such as a pin.
Prick the potatoes and rub the skins with salt. [VERB noun]
He pricks holes in the foil with a pin. [VERB noun preposition]
2. verb
If something sharp pricks you or if you prickyourself with something sharp, it sticks into you or presses your skin and causes you pain.
She had just pricked her finger with the needle. [VERB noun]
[Also VERB pronoun-reflexive]
Synonyms: pierce, stab, puncture, bore More Synonyms of prick
3. verb
If tears prick your eyes, you feel as if you are about to cry.
[literary]
Davydd felt tears prick his eyes. [VERB noun]
4. verb
If something pricks your conscience, you suddenly feel guilty about it. If you are prickedby an emotion, you suddenly experience that emotion.
Most were sympathetic once we pricked their consciences. [VERB noun]
I was pricked by the needle of curiosity. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: move, trouble, touch, pain More Synonyms of prick
5. countable noun
A prick is a small, sharp pain that you get when something pricks you.
At the same time she felt a prick on her neck.
Synonyms: pang, smart, sting, spasm More Synonyms of prick
6. countable noun
If someone calls a man a prick, they are indicating that they do not like him and that they think he is stupid.
[informal, offensive, disapproval]
7. countable noun
A man's prick is his penis.
[informal, very rude]
Phrasal verbs:
See prick up
More Synonyms of prick
prick in British English
(prɪk)
verb(mainly tr)
1.
a.
to make (a small hole) in (something) by piercing lightly with a sharp point
b.
to wound in this manner
2. (intransitive)
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. (also intr; usually foll byup)
to rise or raise erect; point
the dog pricked his ears up at his master's call
7. (usually foll byout or off)
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. (intransitive) archaic
to ride fast on horseback; spur a horse on
11. prick up one's ears
noun
12.
the act of pricking or the condition or sensation of being pricked
13.
a mark made by a sharp point; puncture
14.
a sharp emotional pain resembling the physical pain caused by being pricked
a prick of conscience
15. a vulgar slang word for penis
16. vulgar, slang, derogatory
an obnoxious or despicable man
17.
an instrument or weapon with a sharp point, such as a thorn, goad, bee sting, etc
18.
the footprint or track of an animal, esp a hare
19. obsolete
a small mark caused by pricking a surface; dot; point
20. kick against the pricks
Word origin
Old English prica point, puncture; related to Dutch prik, Icelandic prik short stick, Swedish prick point, stick
prick in American English
(prɪk)
noun
1.
a very small puncture or, formerly, dot, made by a sharp point
2. Archaic
any of various pointed objects, as a thorn, goad, etc.
3.
pricking
4.
a sharp pain caused by or as if by being pricked
5.
a. Slang, Vulgar
the penis
b. Slang
a person, esp. a man, regarded as contemptible, obnoxious, etc.
mildly vulgar
verb transitive
6.
to make (a tiny hole) in (something) with a sharp point
7.
to cause or feel sharp pain in
remorse pricked his conscience
8.
to mark or trace by dots, points, or punctures
9.
to pierce (a horse's foot) to the quick in shoeing, causing lameness
10.
to cause to point or stick up
often with up
11. Archaic
to spur or urge on; goad; incite
verb intransitive
12.
to cause or feel a slight, sharp pain
13.
to have a prickly or stinging sensation; tingle
14.
to point or stick up
said esp. of ears
15. Archaic
to spur a horse on; ride fast
adjective
16.
carried stiffly erect
said of a dog's ears
Idioms:
prick out
prick up one's ears
Word origin
ME prike < OE prica, point, dot, akin to Du prik, MHG pfrecken
More idioms containing
prick
prick up your ears
In other languages
prick
British English: prick /prɪk/ VERB
If you prick something, you make small holes in it with a sharp object such as a pin.
Prick the potatoes and rub them with salt.
American English: prick
Arabic: يَثْقُب
Brazilian Portuguese: picar
Chinese: 刺
Croatian: nabosti
Czech: propíchnout
Danish: prik
Dutch: prikken
European Spanish: pinchar
Finnish: pistää neulalla
French: piquer
German: stechen
Greek: κεντρίζω
Italian: pungere
Japanese: チクリと刺す
Korean: 찌르다
Norwegian: prikke
Polish: przekłuwać
European Portuguese: picar
Romanian: a găuri
Russian: уколоть
Latin American Spanish: pinchar
Swedish: sticka göra hål på
Thai: เจาะ
Turkish: delmek iğneyle
Ukrainian: колоти
Vietnamese: chọc
British English: prick NOUN
A prick is a small, sharp pain that you get when something pricks you.
At the same time she felt a prick on her neck.
American English: prick
Brazilian Portuguese: picada
Chinese: 刺痛
European Spanish: pinchazo
French: piqûre
German: Stich
Italian: puntura
Japanese: ちくっとした痛み
Korean: 따끔함
European Portuguese: picada
Latin American Spanish: pinchazo
All related terms of 'prick'
prick out
to transplant ( seedlings ) as from seed pans to shallow boxes
prick up
If someone pricks up their ears or if their ears prick up , they listen eagerly when they suddenly hear an interesting sound or an important piece of information.
prick song
a piece of written vocal music
prick-tease
someone who behaves provocatively with a man but does not intend to engage in sexual activity with him
prick-teaser
someone who behaves provocatively with a man but does not intend to engage in sexual activity with him
prick-teasing
the behaviour of a prick-tease
pinprick
A very small spot of something can be described as a pinprick .
prick up your ears
to start listening eagerly, because you suddenly hear an interesting sound or piece of information
prick up one's ears
to start to listen attentively; become interested
Chinese translation of 'prick'
prick
(prɪk)
n(c)
(= sting) 刺 (cì) (根, gēn)
(inf!)
(= penis) 阴(陰)茎(莖) (yīnjīng)
(= idiot) 蠢人 (chǔnrén) (个(個), gè)
vt
(= scratch) (on thorn, with needle) 刺 (cì)
(also prick holes in) 刺孔于(於) (cìkǒng yú)
to prick o.s. (on/with sth)被(某物)刺到 (bèi (mǒuwù) cìdào)
to prick up one's ears (= listen) 侧(側)耳倾(傾)听(聽) (cè'ěr qīngtīng)
1 (verb)
Definition
to pierce lightly with a sharp point
She pricked her finger with a needle.
Synonyms
pierce
Pierce the skin of the potato with a fork.
stab
Somebody stabbed him in the stomach.
puncture
The bullet punctured his stomach.
bore
Get the special drill bit to bore the correct-size hole.
pink
punch
I took a pen and punched holes in the carton.
lance
jab
The needle was jabbed into my arm by a nurse.
perforate
The table was perforated by a series of small holes.
impale
I had to go to hospital after impaling my foot on a railing spike.
2 (verb)
Definition
to cause a sharp emotional pain (in)
Most were sympathetic once we had pricked their consciences.
Synonyms
move
These stories surprised and moved me.
trouble
Is anything troubling you?
touch
It has touched me deeply to see how these people live.
pain
It pains me to think of an animal being in distress.
wound
He was deeply wounded by the treachery of his closest friends.
distress
I did not want to frighten or distress her.
grieve
It grieved me to see him in such distress.
3 (verb)
Definition
to cause a piercing sensation (in)
He could feel tears pricking his eyes.
Synonyms
sting
The nettles stung their legs.
bite
nylon biting into the flesh
smart
My eyes smarted from the smoke.
itch
When you have hayfever, your eyes and nose stream and itch.
tingle
The backs of his hands tingled.
prickle
His scalp prickled under his wig.
1 (noun)
Definition
a sharp emotional pain
She felt a prick on the back of her neck.
Synonyms
pang
pangs of hunger
smart
sting
Remove the bee sting with tweezers.
spasm
gnawing
twinge
the occasional twinge of indigestion
prickle
A prickle at the nape of my neck reminds me of my fears.
2 (noun)
Definition
a mark made by a sharp point
a tiny hole no bigger than a pin prick
Synonyms
puncture
an instrument used to make a puncture in the abdominal wall
cut
He had sustained a cut on his left eyebrow.
hole
They got in through a hole in the wall.
kids with holes in the knees of their jeans
wound
Six soldiers are reported to have died of their wounds.
gash
a long gash just above his right eye
perforation
pinhole
phrasal verb
See prick up
idiom
See prick up your ears
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bite
Definition
(of corrosive material) to eat away or into
nylon biting into the flesh
Synonyms
eat,
burn,
smart,
sting,
erode,
tingle,
eat away,
corrode,
wear away
in the sense of bore
Definition
to produce (a tunnel, mine shaft, etc.) by drilling
Get the special drill bit to bore the correct-size hole.
Synonyms
drill,
mine,
sink,
tunnel,
pierce,
penetrate,
burrow,
puncture,
perforate,
gouge out
in the sense of cut
Definition
a stroke or incision made by cutting
He had sustained a cut on his left eyebrow.
Synonyms
gash,
nick,
wound,
slash,
graze,
laceration
Synonyms of 'prick'
prick
Explore 'prick' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of distress
Definition
to upset badly
I did not want to frighten or distress her.
Synonyms
upset,
worry,
trouble,
pain,
wound,
bother,
disturb,
dismay,
grieve,
torment,
harass,
afflict,
harrow,
agitate,
sadden,
perplex,
disconcert,
agonize,
fluster,
perturb,
faze,
throw (someone) off balance
in the sense of gash
Definition
a long deep cut
a long gash just above his right eye
Synonyms
cut,
tear,
split,
wound,
rent,
slash,
slit,
gouge,
incision,
laceration
in the sense of grieve
Definition
to feel or cause to feel great sorrow or distress
It grieved me to see him in such distress.
Synonyms
sadden,
hurt,
injure,
distress,
wound,
crush,
pain,
afflict,
upset,
agonize,
break the heart of,
make your heart bleed
in the sense of hole
Definition
an opening in or through something
They got in through a hole in the wall.kids with holes in the knees of their jeans
Synonyms
opening,
split,
crack,
break,
tear,
gap,
rent,
breach,
outlet,
vent,
puncture,
aperture,
fissure,
orifice,
perforation
in the sense of impale
Definition
to pierce through or fix with a sharp object
I had to go to hospital after impaling my foot on a railing spike.
Synonyms
pierce,
stick,
run through,
spike,
lance,
spear,
skewer,
spit,
transfix
in the sense of itch
Definition
to feel an irritating or tickling sensation
When you have hayfever, your eyes and nose stream and itch.
Synonyms
prickle,
tickle,
tingle,
crawl
in the sense of jab
Definition
to poke sharply
The needle was jabbed into my arm by a nurse.
Synonyms
poke,
dig,
punch,
thrust,
tap,
stab,
nudge,
prod,
lunge
in the sense of pain
Definition
to cause (a person) physical or mental suffering
It pains me to think of an animal being in distress.
Synonyms
distress,
worry,
hurt,
wound,
torture,
grieve,
torment,
afflict,
sadden,
disquiet,
vex,
agonize,
cut to the quick,
aggrieve
in the sense of perforate
Definition
to make a hole or holes in
The table was perforated by a series of small holes.
Synonyms
pierce,
hole,
bore,
punch,
drill,
penetrate,
puncture,
honeycomb
in the sense of prickle
Definition
to feel a stinging sensation
His scalp prickled under his wig.
Synonyms
tingle,
smart,
sting,
twitch,
itch
Additional synonyms
in the sense of prickle
Definition
a pricking or stinging sensation
A prickle at the nape of my neck reminds me of my fears.
Synonyms
tingling,
smart,
chill,
tickle,
tingle,
pins and needles (informal),
goose bumps,
goose flesh,
paraesthesia,
formication
in the sense of punch
Definition
to pierce, cut, stamp, shape, or drive with a punch
I took a pen and punched holes in the carton.
Synonyms
pierce,
cut,
bore,
drill,
pink,
stamp,
puncture,
prick,
perforate
in the sense of smart
Definition
to feel or cause a sharp stinging physical or mental pain
My eyes smarted from the smoke.
Synonyms
sting,
burn,
tingle,
pain,
hurt,
throb
in the sense of smart
Definition
a stinging pain or feeling
Synonyms
sting,
pain,
smarting,
pang,
soreness,
burning sensation
in the sense of stab
Definition
to pierce with a sharp pointed instrument
Somebody stabbed him in the stomach.
Synonyms
pierce,
cut,
gore,
run through,
stick,
injure,
wound,
knife,
thrust,
spear,
jab,
puncture,
bayonet,
transfix,
impale,
spill blood
in the sense of tingle
Definition
to feel a mild prickling or stinging sensation, as from cold or excitement
The backs of his hands tingled.
Synonyms
prickle,
sting,
itch,
tickle,
have goose pimples
in the sense of touch
Definition
to produce an emotional response in
It has touched me deeply to see how these people live.
Synonyms
move,
upset,
stir,
disturb,
melt,
soften,
tug at someone's heartstrings (facetious),
leave an impression on
in the sense of trouble
Definition
to cause trouble to
Is anything troubling you?
Synonyms
bother,
worry,
upset,
disturb,
distress,
annoy,
plague,
grieve,
torment,
harass,
hassle (informal),
afflict,
pain,
fret,
agitate,
sadden,
perplex,
disconcert,
disquiet,
pester,
vex,
perturb,
faze,
give someone grief (British, South Africa),
discompose,
put or get someone's back up,
hack you off (informal)
in the sense of twinge
Definition
a sudden brief darting or stabbing pain
the occasional twinge of indigestion
Synonyms
pain,
sharp pain,
gripe,
stab,
bite,
twist,
stitch,
pinch,
throb,
twitch,
prick,
spasm,
tweak,
tic
in the sense of wound
Definition
to cause an injury to the body or feelings of
He was deeply wounded by the treachery of his closest friends.
Synonyms
offend,
shock,
pain,
hurt,
distress,
annoy,
sting,
grieve,
mortify,
cut to the quick,
hurt the feelings of,
traumatize
Additional synonyms
in the sense of wound
Definition
an injury to the body such as a cut or a gunshot injury
Six soldiers are reported to have died of their wounds.