Prick
noun
A small hole or puncture made by a sharp-pointed object.
There was a tiny prick on her finger from the needle.
noun
A feeling of slight sharp pain.
She felt a prick of fear as the lights went out.
noun
A man who is despicable or contemptible.
He was being a complete prick at the party.
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
verb
To make a small hole or puncture in something with a sharp-pointed object.
Be careful not to prick your finger with the needle.
verb
To cause a sharp emotional pain, like guilt or regret.
His conscience was pricked by the suffering he saw.
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
Literary
noun
A small hole or puncture made by a sharp-pointed object.
There was a tiny prick on her finger from the needle.
noun
A feeling of slight sharp pain.
She felt a prick of fear as the lights went out.
noun
A man who is despicable or contemptible.
He was being a complete prick at the party.
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
verb
To make a small hole or puncture in something with a sharp-pointed object.
Be careful not to prick your finger with the needle.
verb
To cause a sharp emotional pain, like guilt or regret.
His conscience was pricked by the suffering he saw.
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
Literary
Definition 1 of 5
Pro Tip 1/2Literal Tiny Marks
Used to describe minimal damage often overlooked, like those made by very fine instruments or insects.
You may notice a prick on the surface after removing a staple.
Pro Tip 2/2Emphasize Minutiae
Highlights the small scale of an object or action when meticulously examining something.
Under the magnifying glass, the fabric's pricks were visible.
Pro Tip 1/2Literal Tiny Marks
Used to describe minimal damage often overlooked, like those made by very fine instruments or insects.
You may notice a prick on the surface after removing a staple.
Pro Tip 2/2Emphasize Minutiae
Highlights the small scale of an object or action when meticulously examining something.
Under the magnifying glass, the fabric's pricks were visible.
Pro Tip 1/2Literal Tiny Marks
Used to describe minimal damage often overlooked, like those made by very fine instruments or insects.
You may notice a prick on the surface after removing a staple.
Pro Tip 2/2Emphasize Minutiae
Highlights the small scale of an object or action when meticulously examining something.
Under the magnifying glass, the fabric's pricks were visible.
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Video examples
Are you a giver or a...
If that helps you. Disagreeable givers are the most undervalued people in our organizations, because they're the ones who give the critical feedback that no one wants to hear but everyone needs to hear. We need to do a much better job valuing these people as opposed to writing them off early, and saying, "Eh, kind of prickly,
Video examples
Princess Diana's Funeral...
like me to place it for you?" And the woman said, "No, ma'am, it's for you." And that sort of broke the ice. It was that moment. And I think suddenly people saw her, instead of feeling all prickly and angry, they suddenly thought, my goodness, this is a grandmother, and she's got to deal with all this.
Video examples
Stories: Legacies of who...
Patrick Henry's speech -- I even memorized it. My teacher, she would prick our minds, trying to see what we thinking about. She would say, "Who are you? Hmm? Who are you, sitting right here right now? The person that people think they see from your outside?
Video examples
Noah Wilson-Rich: Every...
I spent many years in grad school trying to poke bees and do vaccines with needles. Like, years, years at the bench, "Oh my gosh, it's 3 a.m. and I'm still pricking bees." And then one day I said, "Why don't we just do an oral vaccine?"
Video examples
Porcupine vs. Lion PIPE...
pierce the flesh of life and these wounds could even kill it nevertheless a porcupine is a juicy delicacy and these curious Cubs look for a way to get a paw under it flipping an attack but the prickly porcupine fends off the Cubs and
Video examples
The myth of Cupid and...
with the pinpricks of his arrows. Psyche dropped her lamp, burning Cupid with hot oil. He said he'd been in love with Psyche ever since his jealous mother, Venus, asked him to embarrass the young woman by pricking her with an arrow.
Video examples
See How Termites...
which means they can absorb a lot of heat without really changing temperature. The exterior of the building is prickly like a cactus. By increasing the amount of surface area, heat loss is improved at night,
Video examples
How do animals...
Humans know the surprising prick of a needle, the searing pain of a stubbed toe, and the throbbing of a toothache.
Video examples
Expanding our definition...
anything at all a proper education a writer in a prison little pricks a nun tear down all covering this world and
Video examples
Spotting One of the...
heads even the prick is scurrying for cover it's not a good situation
Video examples
Are you a giver or a...
If that helps you. Disagreeable givers are the most undervalued people in our organizations, because they're the ones who give the critical feedback that no one wants to hear but everyone needs to hear. We need to do a much better job valuing these people as opposed to writing them off early, and saying, "Eh, kind of prickly,
Video examples
Princess Diana's Funeral...
like me to place it for you?" And the woman said, "No, ma'am, it's for you." And that sort of broke the ice. It was that moment. And I think suddenly people saw her, instead of feeling all prickly and angry, they suddenly thought, my goodness, this is a grandmother, and she's got to deal with all this.
Video examples
Stories: Legacies of who...
Patrick Henry's speech -- I even memorized it. My teacher, she would prick our minds, trying to see what we thinking about. She would say, "Who are you? Hmm? Who are you, sitting right here right now? The person that people think they see from your outside?
Video examples
Noah Wilson-Rich: Every...
I spent many years in grad school trying to poke bees and do vaccines with needles. Like, years, years at the bench, "Oh my gosh, it's 3 a.m. and I'm still pricking bees." And then one day I said, "Why don't we just do an oral vaccine?"
Video examples
Porcupine vs. Lion PIPE...
pierce the flesh of life and these wounds could even kill it nevertheless a porcupine is a juicy delicacy and these curious Cubs look for a way to get a paw under it flipping an attack but the prickly porcupine fends off the Cubs and
Video examples
The myth of Cupid and...
with the pinpricks of his arrows. Psyche dropped her lamp, burning Cupid with hot oil. He said he'd been in love with Psyche ever since his jealous mother, Venus, asked him to embarrass the young woman by pricking her with an arrow.
Video examples
See How Termites...
which means they can absorb a lot of heat without really changing temperature. The exterior of the building is prickly like a cactus. By increasing the amount of surface area, heat loss is improved at night,
Video examples
How do animals...
Humans know the surprising prick of a needle, the searing pain of a stubbed toe, and the throbbing of a toothache.
Video examples
Expanding our definition...
anything at all a proper education a writer in a prison little pricks a nun tear down all covering this world and
Video examples
Spotting One of the...
heads even the prick is scurrying for cover it's not a good situation
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Jeremy Irons
English Actor
And trust, yes, which is important, but that is what I aim towards. Now that is difficult for some people, and with that desire to get things as good as possible, I would say that I'm probably regarded as quite prickly to work with.
Quote examples
Bhumibol Adulyadej
Statesman
My mother praised me when I did something good, and then the next moment, she would say, 'Don't float.' She put me in a balloon and then pricked it.
Quote examples
William Shakespeare
English Playwright
If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge?
Quote examples
Stephen Kinzer
American Author
For decades, Turkey was widely viewed as a reliable NATO ally: prickly at times, but safely in America's corner.
Quote examples
Sandra Bullock
American Actress
I've learned that success comes in a very prickly package. Whether you choose to accept it or not is up to you.
Quote examples
H. P. Lovecraft
American Novelist
We shall see that at which dogs howl in the dark, and that at which cats prick up their ears after midnight.
Quote examples
Babe Ruth
American Baseball Player
Cobb is a prick. But he sure can hit. God Almighty, that man can hit.
Quote examples
Coretta Scott King
American Activist
You have to have people who prick the consciences of the nation.
Quote examples
Sean Murray
American Actor
At home, I'm different. I'm a total prick.
Quote examples
James Marsh
British Director
I can be prickly and difficult on set.
Quote examples
Jeremy Irons
English Actor
And trust, yes, which is important, but that is what I aim towards. Now that is difficult for some people, and with that desire to get things as good as possible, I would say that I'm probably regarded as quite prickly to work with.
Quote examples
Bhumibol Adulyadej
Statesman
My mother praised me when I did something good, and then the next moment, she would say, 'Don't float.' She put me in a balloon and then pricked it.
Quote examples
William Shakespeare
English Playwright
If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge?
Quote examples
Stephen Kinzer
American Author
For decades, Turkey was widely viewed as a reliable NATO ally: prickly at times, but safely in America's corner.
Quote examples
Sandra Bullock
American Actress
I've learned that success comes in a very prickly package. Whether you choose to accept it or not is up to you.
Quote examples
H. P. Lovecraft
American Novelist
We shall see that at which dogs howl in the dark, and that at which cats prick up their ears after midnight.
Quote examples
Babe Ruth
American Baseball Player
Cobb is a prick. But he sure can hit. God Almighty, that man can hit.
Quote examples
Coretta Scott King
American Activist
You have to have people who prick the consciences of the nation.
Quote examples
Sean Murray
American Actor
At home, I'm different. I'm a total prick.
Quote examples
James Marsh
British Director
I can be prickly and difficult on set.
Example 1 of 10
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