- prick
- 1
verb
1 (T) to make a small hole in something, using a sharp point: Prick the pastry lightly with a fork. | prick yourself/prick your finger: Ouch! I've pricked my finger with the needle.2 (I, T) to feel an unpleasant stinging feeling on your skin, or to make someone feel this: prick sth: The coarse material was beginning to prick my whole body.—see also: prickle 2 (1)3 prick sb's conscience to make someone feel guilty or ashamed: a documentary that should prick the consciences of the comfortable middle classes4 prick (up) its ears if an animal pricks up its ears it raises them and points them towards a sound: The rabbit stopped suddenly, pricking up its ears.5 prick (up) your ears to listen carefully because you have heard something interesting: Jay pricked up his ears when I mentioned vacation.6 prick the bubble (of sth) to make someone see the uncomfortable truth of a situationprick sth out phrasal verb (T) to place a young plant in a specially prepared hole 2 noun (C)1 PAIN a slight pain you get when something sharp goes into your skin: Don't worry, it's just a little needle prick.2 SMALL HOLEa) a small hole made by a sharp point in your skin or the surface of something: A sample of blood was drawn from a prick in the skin.b) an act of pricking something: Give the sausages a prick.—see also: pinprick3 SEX ORGAN slang taboo a penis4 PERSON slang taboo a stupid unpleasant man5 prick of conscience an uncomfortable feeling that you have done something wrong6 a prick of light a small point or circle of light
Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.