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Meaning & use

prick

verb, noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/prɪk/
US/prɪk/

Meanings

  1. verbtransitive

    To make a tiny hole in something with a sharp point.

    Grammar: Takes an object: prick your finger.

    Patterns

    • prick something with something

    She pricked her finger on a rose thorn.

    Prick the potatoes with a fork before baking.

    The nurse pricked his arm to take a blood sample.

  2. nouncountable

    A small sharp pain or tiny hole made by a pointed object.

    Grammar: Countable: a prick of the needle.

    Patterns

    • a prick of something

    You'll feel a small prick of the needle.

    A prick of pain shot up her thumb.

    The prick on his arm was barely visible.

  3. nouncountablefigurative

    A brief feeling of guilt, doubt or unease.

    Grammar: Figurative: a prick of conscience.

    Patterns

    • a prick of conscience

    He felt a prick of conscience about the lie.

    A prick of jealousy surprised her.

    There was a prick of doubt in her mind.

  4. nouncountablevulgaroffensiveslang

    A rude, unkind or contemptible man.

    Grammar: Vulgar insult; avoid in polite speech.

    Patterns

    • act like a prick

    Calling someone a prick is considered vulgar.

    He was told he'd behaved like a prick.

    The word is a strong insult in British English.

Word forms

third person singularpricks
past tensepricked
past participlepricked
-ing formpricking
pluralpricks

Common combinations

prick your finger
Be careful not to prick your finger.
prick of conscience
He felt a prick of conscience.
prick up your ears
The dog pricked up its ears at the sound.
prick a balloon
A thorn will prick a balloon.
prick with a pin
She pricked it with a pin.

Synonyms and how they differ

pierce
Pierce suggests going all the way through, whereas prick makes a smaller, shallower hole.
puncture
Puncture is used mostly for tires and skin, and implies damage.
jab
Jab means a quick poke, with more force than a prick.
twinge
Twinge is a sudden brief pain or feeling, like the figurative prick.

Word family

prickle noun
a small sharp point on a plant
prickly adjective
covered in sharp points, or easily annoyed
pricking noun
a tingling pain
pinprick noun
a tiny hole or sting

Commonly confused: prick or pick?

prick vs pick

Pick means choose or pluck, while prick means pierce lightly.

Practice

The guilty thief felt a ______ of conscience when he saw the owner's face.

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