I. prick ‧ le 1 /ˈprɪk ə l/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: pricle ]
1 . a long thin sharp point on the skin of some animals or the surface of some plants
2 . if you feel a prickle of fear, anger, or excitement, you feel slightly afraid, angry, or excited in a way that makes your skin feel slightly cold and uncomfortable
prickle of
She felt a prickle of fear as she realized that she was alone.
II. prickle 2 BrE AmE verb
1 . [intransitive and transitive] if something prickles your skin, it makes it sting slightly:
A cold breeze prickled his face.
His hair prickled my neck.
prickle on
He felt sweat prickle on his forehead.
2 . [intransitive] if your skin prickles, it begins to sting slightly:
Her skin was prickling uncomfortably.
3 . [intransitive] British English if your eyes prickle, they sting slightly because you are going to cry:
She felt her eyes prickle. ‘It was awful,’ she whispered.
My eyes prickled with tears.
4 . [intransitive] if you prickle, you feel slightly angry, excited, or afraid
prickle with
The thought of meeting him made her prickle with excitement.
prickle at
She felt herself prickle (=become angry) at his tone of voice.