Definition of prick - Reverso English Dictionary
Noun
1.
toolsmall pointed object
- The thorn was a tiny prick on the stem.
2.
- He made a crude joke about his prick.
3.
- He's such a prick when he's angry..
4.
sensationRare sharp, stinging sensationRare
- He felt a prick of pain in his arm.
Verb
1.
piercemake a small hole with a sharp object
- She pricked her finger with a needle.
2.
stingcause a sharp physical pain
- The thorn pricked his skin painfully.
3.
goadstimulate or incite someone
- His words pricked her into action.
4.
delineateRare UK mark a surface with dots or puncturesRare UK
- He pricked the map to trace the route.
5.
remorseRare cause a sharp emotional painRare
- Guilt pricked her conscience.
6.
horticultureTECH. UK transplant seedlings into soilTECH. UK
- They pricked out the seedlings into pots.
Images of prick

small pointed object
Expressions with prick
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
cause someone to reflect on their moral principles
The documentary pricked their conscience about environmental issues.
raise ears in attention
The dog pricked up its ears at the sound..
suddenly listen carefully to something interesting
He pricked up his ears when he heard his name.
start listening carefully
When she mentioned the prize, everyone pricked up their ears.
suddenly become alert or interested after hearing something
Her ears prick up when she hears her name.
cause someone's unrealistic expectations to be destroyed
The harsh feedback pricked the bubble of his dreams.
feeling of guilt or regret
He felt a prick of conscience after lying to his friend.
become suddenly attentive or alert
She pricked her ears at the mention of her name.
small puncture or sting causing minor pain
The injection was just a little prick.
separate seedlings growing together into different pots
Gardeners often prick out seedlings to promote healthy growth.
medical test for allergies using skin pricks
The doctor performed a prick test to check for allergies.
Origin of prick
Old English, prica (point) + -ian (verb suffix)
Terms with prick included in their meaning
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Examples of prick in a sentence
The cactus had a sharp prick on its surface. He felt embarrassed when his prick was mentioned. The doctor examined his prick for any issues. Don't be such a prick to your friends. She called him a prick for his rude behavior. A prick of fear ran down her spine.
The needle gave a quick prick to his finger. The thorn pricked the balloon, causing it to pop. He pricked the sausage with a fork before cooking. She winced as the needle pricked her finger. The cactus pricked him when he touched it. The coach pricked the team to improve their performance. Her remarks pricked him to reconsider his decision. She pricked the fabric to create a pattern. The artist pricked the canvas with precision. Regret pricked his heart as he remembered. Her words pricked his conscience deeply. Gardeners often prick seedlings into larger trays. It's time to prick the young plants into the garden.
View all translations of prick
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:pointe, piquer, ...
- German:Stachel, stechen, ...
- Italian:spina, pungere, ...
- Spanish:pincho, pinchar, ...
- Portuguese:ponta, picar, ...
- Chinese:尖刺, 扎, ...
- Japanese:とげ, 刺す, ...
- Arabic:شَوْكَة, وَخَزَ, ...
- Hebrew:קוֹץ, לִדְקוֹר, ...
- Russian:укол, колоть, ...
- Ukrainian:укол, проколоти, ...
- Hindi:नुकीला, चुभाना, ...
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