( BrE ) ( NAmE prize ) / praɪz; NAmE / (also pry / praɪ; NAmE / especially in NAmE ) verb
to use force to separate sth from sth else :
[ vn + adv. / prep. ]
He prised her fingers from the bag and took it from her.
[ vn - adj ]
She used a knife to prise open the lid.
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PHRASAL VERBS
- prise sth out (of sb) | prise sth from sb
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WORD ORIGIN
late 17th cent.: from dialect prise lever , from Old French prise grasp, taking hold. Compare with pry sense 2.