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Glite Dictionary
😠 An unpleasant man 🍆 A vulgar penis 🪡 To pierce 🤏 To sting 🩹 A small puncture 🔘 A small dent 🦊 To raise ears
to prick

to prick

14 4.7
To cause a small sharp pain like a sting
  • verb
  • /prɪk/
translation icon : pinchar
  • Whenever the mother spoke, we would hear a muffled, wailing cry that pricked every inch of our skin.

Examples

  • Her words, however, pricked him like the knife that does the spreading.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Tears of frustration pricked my eyelids when my aching head refused to concentrate.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Are you going to ask him questions that could possibly prick your heart?

  • Then my comfort was pricked by a wave of shame as I remembered my behavior the night before.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • It pricked my skin and filled me with love.

    Brilliantlove (2010)

  • For a second, you are relieved to feel the odd piece of stubble pricking your lips.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • Then Ivy's heart pricked, and something cold spilled through her.

    Academic text (2007)

  • Doug's ears pricked up at this, and he felt a familiar chill creeping down his back.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • I found myself pricked by a sweet pang of longing, though I couldn't say what for.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • Tears began to prick at the corners of my eyes during the emotional movie.

Synonyms

to sting
vsto prick
91 2.3

To feel a sharp, sudden pain like an insect bite

can be physical or emotional and includes milder tingling sensations too
to pierce
vsto prick
28 4.6

To cause a sudden strong feeling in someone

is a sharp or tingling sensation that may be less deep or powerful
to prickle
vsto prick
4 4.0

Cause a small stinging or tingling feeling on the skin

is stronger and can be sharp or affect feelings as well
to needle
vsto prick
2 5.3

To pierce skin or cloth with a thin sharp object

is a general sensation that can be sharp or emotional not a tool puncture

Antonyms

to relieve
166 2.3

Make pain, stress, or worry less

to soothe
63 3.4

To make someone feel calmer or reduce their pain

Idioms

to acting like a prick
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave in a rude and hurtful way to other people

Phrasal Verbs

to prick up
3 4.9

Ears suddenly point up when an animal hears something and becomes alert

How Sharp

to sear
76 6.1
to burn
706 1.8
to sting
26 3.3
to prick
14 4.7
to tingle
43 3.5

Surface Forms

prick infinitive
pricked past
pricked past participle
pricking present participle
pricks third person singular

Etymology

Prick also came to mean 'to sting' because a small pierce gives a quick, sharp feeling. So if something pricks you, it causes a small, sharp pain or tingle.