prick
2 ENTRIES FOUND:
pricks;
pricked;
pricking
pricks;
pricked;
pricking
Britannica Dictionary definition of PRICK
1
[+ object]
:
to make a very small hole in (something) with a sharp pointed object
-
She pricked her finger with a pin. = The pin pricked her (finger).
-
The nurse pricked my finger and squeezed out a drop of blood.
2
a
[+ object]
:
to cause a sharp, painful feeling on or in (part of your body)
-
The sharp shells pricked the bottoms of our feet.
b
literary
◊ If tears prick your eyes, you begin to feel tears in your eyes.
3
[+ object]
:
to make (someone) feel guilt, shame, regret, etc.
-
She was pricked by doubt/guilt/jealousy.
-
The photographs of the flood victims pricked my conscience [=made me feel guilty] and I knew I had to do something to help.
-
His conscience pricked him. [=he felt guilty; he felt that he had done something wrong]
4
of an animal
:
to cause (the ears) to point upward
— used figuratively of people
[+ object]
-
The dog pricked (up) its ears at the sound.
[no object]
-
The dog's ears pricked up at the sound.
-
Her ears pricked (up) when they said her name. = She pricked up her ears [=she started to listen carefully] when they said her name.
2
prick
/ˈprɪk/
noun
plural
pricks
2
prick
/ˈprɪk/
noun
plural
pricks
Britannica Dictionary definition of PRICK
[count]
1
:
an act of making a small hole in something with a sharp pointed object
-
The nurse gave my finger a (little) prick (with a needle) and squeezed out a drop of blood.
2
a
:
a feeling of pain caused by being touched by something sharp or pointed
-
She felt a prick as the thorn jabbed her foot.
-
He felt the prick of the needle.
b
:
a slight, sharp feeling of sadness, regret, etc.
-
She felt a prick of jealousy.
-
He felt a prick of conscience. [=a feeling of guilt]
3
4
slang, offensive
:
a very bad or unpleasant man
