prick

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

prick, n. [AS. prica, pricca, pricu; akin to LG. prick, pricke, D. prik, Dan. prik, prikke, Sw. prick. Cf. Prick, v.].

•  That which pricks, penetrates, or punctures; a sharp and slender thing; a pointed instrument; a goad; a spur, etc.; a point; a skewer.  [1913 Webster]

  "Pins, wooden pricks, nails, sprigs of rosemary."  [1913 Webster]

  "It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks."  [1913 Webster]
•  The act of pricking, or the sensation of being pricked; a sharp, stinging pain; figuratively, remorse.  A. Tucker.  [1913 Webster]
•  A mark made by a pointed instrument; a puncture; a point.  [1913 Webster]
•  A small roll; as, a prick of spun yarn; a prick of tobacco.  [1913 Webster]

prick, v. t. [AS. prician; akin to LG. pricken, D. prikken, Dan. prikke, Sw. pricka. See Prick, n., and cf. Prink, Prig.].

•  To pierce slightly with a sharp-pointed instrument or substance; to make a puncture in, or to make by puncturing; to drive a fine point into; as, to prick one with a pin, needle, etc.; to prick a card; to prick holes in paper.  [1913 Webster]
•  To fix by the point; to attach or hang by puncturing; as, to prick a knife into a board.  Sir I. Newton.  [1913 Webster]

  "The cooks prick it [a slice] on a prong of iron."  [1913 Webster]
•  To mark or denote by a puncture; to designate by pricking; to choose; to mark; -- sometimes with off.  [1913 Webster]

  "Some who are pricked for sheriffs."  [1913 Webster]

  "Let the soldiers for duty be carefully pricked off."  [1913 Webster]

  "Those many, then, shall die: their names are pricked."  [1913 Webster]
•  To mark the outline of by puncturing; to trace or form by pricking; to mark by punctured dots; as, to prick a pattern for embroidery; to prick the notes of a musical composition.  Cowper.  [1913 Webster]
•  To ride or guide with spurs; to spur; to goad; to incite; to urge on; -- sometimes with on, or off.  [1913 Webster]

  "Who pricketh his blind horse over the fallows."  [1913 Webster]

  "The season pricketh every gentle heart."  [1913 Webster]

  "My duty pricks me on to utter that."  [1913 Webster]
•  To affect with sharp pain; to sting, as with remorse.  Tennyson.  [1913 Webster]

  "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart."  [1913 Webster]
•  To make sharp; to erect into a point; to raise, as something pointed; -- said especially of the ears of an animal, as a horse or dog; and usually followed by up; -- hence, to prick up the ears, to listen sharply; to have the attention and interest strongly engaged.  Dryden.  [1913 Webster]
•  To render acid or pungent.  Hudibras.  [1913 Webster]
•  To dress; to prink; -- usually with up.  [1913 Webster]
•  To run a middle seam through, as the cloth of a sail.  [1913 Webster]
•  To drive a nail into (a horse's foot), so as to cause lameness.  [1913 Webster]

prick, v. i. 

•  To be punctured; to suffer or feel a sharp pain, as by puncture; as, a sore finger pricks.  [1913 Webster]
•  To spur onward; to ride on horseback.  Milton.  [1913 Webster]

  "A gentle knight was pricking on the plain."  [1913 Webster]
•  To become sharp or acid; to turn sour, as wine.  [1913 Webster]
•  To aim at a point or mark.  Hawkins.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

prick, v. & n.
--v.
1 tr. pierce slightly; make a small hole in.
2 tr. (foll. by off, out) mark (esp. a pattern) with small holes or dots.
3 tr. trouble mentally (my conscience is pricking me).
4 intr. feel a pricking sensation.
5 intr. (foll. by at, into, etc.) make a thrust as if to prick.
6 tr. (foll. by in, off, out) plant (seedlings etc.) in small holes pricked in the earth.
7 tr. Brit. archaic mark off (a name in a list, esp. to select a sheriff) by pricking.
8 tr. archaic spur or urge on (a horse etc.).
--n.
1 the act or an instance of pricking.
2 a small hole or mark made by pricking.
3 a pain caused as by pricking.
4 a mental pain (felt the pricks of conscience).
5 coarse sl. a the penis. b derog. (as a term of contempt) a person.

Idiom

kick against the pricks persist in futile resistance. prick up one's ears
1 (of a dog etc.) make the ears erect when on the alert.
2 (of a person) become suddenly attentive.

Usage

Usually considered a taboo use.
6 archaic a goad for oxen.

Derivative

pricker n.

Etymology

OE prician (v.), pricca (n.)

THESAURUS

prick

aculeus, acuminate, acumination, acute pain, afflict, aggrieve, agonize, ail, anguish, auger, barb the dart, be keen, birthmark, bit, bite, blaze, blaze a trail, blemish, blotch, bore, borer, boring pain, brand, bristle with, broach, bruise, bugger, burn, cage, caste mark, chafe, chalk, chalk up, charley horse, check, check off, checkmark, cicatrix, cicatrize, convulse, corral, countersink, cramp, cramps, crick, crucify, cusp, cut, cut up, dapple, darting pain, dash, define, delimit, demarcate, discolor, discoloration, distress, dot, drill, drive, drove, earmark, egg on, empierce, engrave, engraving, enter, excite, excruciate, exhort, fester, fix, fleck, flick, flog, freckle, fret, fulgurant pain, gad, gadfly, gall, gash, girdle pain, give pain, gnaw, gnawing, goad, gore, gouge, gouge out, grate, graving, grieve, grind, gripe, griping, hack, harrow, hatch, have an edge, herd, hitch, hole, honeycomb, hurt, hurt the feelings, impale, impress, imprint, inflame, inflict pain, irritate, itch, jab, jag, jot, jumping pain, kill by inches, kink, lacerate, lance, lancinating pain, lash, lentigo, line, macula, make a mark, mark, mark off, mark out, marking, martyr, martyrize, mole, mottle, mucro, neb, needle, nevus, nib, nick, nip, notch, nudge, oxgoad, pain, pang, paroxysm, patch, pencil, penetrate, pepper, perforate, perforation, pierce, pinch, pinhole, pink, pinprick, pique, point, poke, polka dot, prickle, print, prod, prolong the agony, prompt, propel, punch, punch cattle, punctuate, puncture, put to torture, rack, rankle, rasp, ream, ream out, riddle, ride herd on, round up, rowel, rub, run through, scar, scarification, scarify, score, scotch, scratch, scratching, scum, seal, seam, seizure, sharp pain, shepherd, shit, shithead, shoot, shooting, shooting pain, sic, skewer, skunk, slash, slit, smart, snake, spasm, spear, speck, speckle, spike, spit, splash, splotch, spot, spur, stab, stabbing pain, stain, stamp, stick, stigma, stigmatize, stimulate, sting, stinker, stitch, strawberry mark, streak, striate, stripe, tap, tattoo, tattoo mark, thrill, throes, tick, tick off, tingle, tip, tittle, toad, tormen, torment, torture, trace, transfix, transpierce, trepan, trephine, turd, tweak, twinge, twist, twist the knife, twitch, underline, underscore, watermark, whip, whiplash, wound, wrangle, wrench, wring

ROGET THESAURUS

prick

Motive

VB induce, move, draw, draw on, bring in its train, give an impulse, to, inspire, put up to, prompt, call up, attract, beckon, stimulate, spirit up, inspirit, rouse, arouse, animate, incite, foment, provoke, instigate, set on, actuate, act upon, work upon, operate upon, encourage, pat on the back, pat on the shoulder, clap on the back, clap on the shoulder, influence, weigh with, bias, sway, incline, dispose, predispose, turn the scale, inoculate, lead by the nose, have influence with, have influence over, have influence upon, exercise influence with, exercise influence over, exercise influence upon, go round, come round one, turn the head, magnetize, lobby, persuade, prevail with, prevail upon, overcome, carry, bring round to one's senses, bring to one's senses, draw over, win over, gain over, come over, talk over, procure, enlist, engage, invite, court, tempt, seduce, overpersuade, entice, allure, captivate, fascinate, bewitch, carry away, charm, conciliate, wheedle, coax, lure, inveigle, tantalize, cajole, tamper with, bribe, suborn, grease the palm, bait with a silver hook, gild the pill, make things pleasant, put a sop into the pan, throw a sop to, bait the hook, enforce, force, impel, propel, whip, lash, goad, spur, prick, urge, egg on, hound, hurry on, drag, exhort, advise, call upon, press, advocate, set an example, set the fashion, keep in countenance, be persuaded, yield to temptation, come round, concede, obey a call, follow advice, follow the bent, follow the dictates of, act on principle.

Painfulness

VB cause pain, occasion pain, give pain, bring pain, induce pain, produce pain, create pain, inflict pain, pain, hurt, wound, pinch, prick, gripe, pierce, lancinate, cut, hurt the feelings, wound the feelings, grate upon the feelings, grate upon the nerves, jar upon the feelings, wring the heart, pierce the heart, lacerate the heart, break the heart, rend the heart, make the heart bleed, tear the heart strings, rend the heart strings, draw tears from the eyes, sadden, make unhappy, plunge into sorrow, grieve, fash, afflict, distress, cut up, cut to the heart, displease, annoy, incommode, discompose, trouble, disquiet, faze, feaze, feeze, disturb, cross, perplex, molest, tease, tire, irk, vex, mortify, wherret, worry, plague, bother, pester, bore, pother, harass, harry, badger, heckle, bait, beset, infest, persecute, importune, wring, harrow, torment, torture, bullyrag, put to the rack, put to the question, break on the wheel, rack, scarify, cruciate, crucify, convulse, agonize, barb the dart, plant a dagger in the breast, plant a thorn in one's side, irritate, provoke, sting, nettle, try the patience, pique, fret, rile, tweak the nose, chafe, gall, sting to the quick, wound to the quick, cut to the quick, aggrieve, affront, enchafe, enrage, ruffle, sour the temper, give offense, maltreat, bite, snap at, assail, smite, sicken, disgust, revolt, nauseate, disenchant, repel, offend, shock, stink in the nostrils, go against the stomach, turn the stomach, make one sick, set the teeth on edge, go against the grain, grate on the ear, stick in one's throat, stick in one's gizzard, rankle, gnaw, corrode, horrify, appal, appall, freeze the blood, make the flesh creep, make the hair stand on end, make the blood curdle, make the blood run cold, make one shudder, haunt the memory, weigh on the heart, prey on the heart, weigh on the mind, prey on the mind, weigh on the spirits, prey on the spirits, bring one's gray hairs with sorrow to the grave, add a nail to one's coffin.

Sharpness

N sharpness, acuity, acumination, spinosity, point, spike, spine, spicule, spiculum, needle, hypodermic needle, tack, nail, pin, prick, prickle, spur, rowel, barb, spit, cusp, horn, antler, snag, tag thorn, bristle, Adam's needle, bear grass, tine, yucca, nib, tooth, tusk, spoke, cog, ratchet, crag, crest, arete, cone peak, sugar loaf, pike, aiguille, spire, pyramid, steeple, beard, chevaux de frise, porcupine, hedgehog, brier, bramble, thistle, comb, awn, beggar's lice, bur, burr, catchweed, cleavers, clivers, goose, grass, hairif, hariff, flax comb, hackle, hatchel, heckle, wedge, knife edge, cutting edge, blade, edge tool, cutlery, knife, penknife, whittle, razor, razor blade, safety razor, straight razor, electric razor, scalpel, bistoury, lancet, plowshare, coulter, colter, hatchet, ax, pickax, mattock, pick, adze, gill, billhook, cleaver, cutter, scythe, sickle, scissors, shears, pruning shears, cutters, wire cutters, nail clipper, paper cutter, sword, bodkin, belduque, bowie knife, paring knife, bushwhacker, drawing knife, drawing shave, microtome, chisel, screwdriver blade, flint blade, guillotine, sharpener, hone, strop, grindstone, whetstone, novaculite, steel, emery, sharp, keen, acute, acicular, aciform, aculeated, acuminated, pointed, tapering, conical, pyramidal, mucronate, mucronated, spindle shaped, needle shaped, spiked, spiky, ensiform, peaked, salient, cusped, cuspidate, cuspidated, cornute, cornuted, cornicultate, prickly, spiny, spinous, spicular, thorny, bristling, muricated, pectinated, studded, thistly, briary, craggy, snaggy, digitated, two-edged, fusiform, dentiform, denticulated, toothed, odontoid, starlike, stellated, stelliform, sagittate, sagittiform, arrowheaded, arrowy, barbed, spurred, acinaciform, apiculate, apiculated, aristate, awned, awny, bearded, calamiform, cone-shaped, coniform, crestate, echinate, gladiate, lanceolate, lanciform, awl, awl-shaped, lance-shaped, awl- shaped, scimitar-shaped, sword-shaped, setarious, spinuliferous, subulate, tetrahedral, xiphoid, cutting, sharp edged, knife edged, sharp as a razor, keen as a razor, sharp as a needle, sharp as a tack, sharpened, set.

Opening

VB open, ope, gape, yawn, bilge, fly open, perforate, pierce, empierce, tap, bore, drill, mine, tunnel, transpierce, transfix, enfilade, impale, spike, spear, gore, spit, stab, pink, puncture, lance, stick, prick, riddle, punch, stave in, cut a passage through, make way for, make room for, uncover, unclose, unrip, lay open, cut open, rip open, throw open, pop open, blow open, pry open, tear open, pull open.

Physical Pain

VB feel pain, experience pain, suffer pain, undergo pain, suffer, ache, smart, bleed, tingle, shoot, twinge, twitch, lancinate, writhe, wince, make a wry face, sit on thorns, sit on pins and needles, give pain, inflict pain, lacerate, pain, hurt, chafe, sting, bite, gnaw, gripe, pinch, tweak, grate, gall, fret, prick, pierce, wring, convulse, torment, torture, rack, agonize, crucify, cruciate, excruciate, break on the wheel, put to the rack, flog, grate on the ear.

Sensations of Touch

VB itch, tingle, creep, thrill, sting, prick, prickle, tickle, titillate.