I. ˈprik noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English prikke, prik, from Old English prica; akin to Middle Dutch pric, pricke prick, Old Norse prik short stick, point and perhaps to Old Norse pikka to peck, hack — more at pick
1. : a mark or shallow hole made by a pointed instrument : puncture , point , dot : as
a. : a wound or flaw consisting of such a mark or hole ; especially : an injury to a horse's hoof resulting from driving a nail into the quick in shoeing
b. : the footprint of a hare
2. : any of various small marks or points resembling a prick made by a pointed instrument: as
a. archaic : punctuation mark : a diacritical mark
b. obsolete : a minute part or particle : a point in space or time
c.
(1) : a mark fixed for shooting with bow and arrow : bullseye , target
(2) obsolete : something at which one directs one's aim : objective , intent
d.
(1) : a note used in medieval music
(2) : a dot placed after a note or rest in musical notation
e. obsolete : a mark on the dial of a sundial or clock noting the divisions of time
3. : something that pricks or is capable of making punctures (as a pointed instrument or weapon): as
a.
(1) : a sharp projecting organ or part of a plant or animal (as a thorn, prickle, or spine)
(2) obsolete the sting of a bee or other arthropod
b. obsolete : a goad for oxen
c. obsolete : a usually nonmaterial source of distress or stimulation (as a cause of remorse or vexation or an incentive)
d. dialect chiefly England : skewer
e. obsolete : an upright tapering object (as a spire, a tent pole, or the pricket of a candlestick)
4. : an instance of pricking or the sensation of being pricked: as
a. : a nagging or sharp feeling of remorse, regret, or sorrow (as for past deeds or omissions)
b. : a slight sharply localized discomfort
felt only a prick as the doctor made the injection
c. : a brief sharp attack : stab
a prick of conscience
5. : penis — usually considered vulgar
6. : a roll of tobacco suitable for carrying on the person
7. slang : a disagreeable or contemptible person
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English prikken, priken, from Old English prician; akin to Middle High German pfrecken to prick, Old English priccan, Old Norse prika; all from the root of English prick (I)
transitive verb
1. : to pierce slightly with something sharp-pointed : make a puncture in : drive a fine point into
prick holes in paper
as
a.
(1) : to wound usually slightly with a pointed instrument
pricked his finger with a pin
(2) : to give a slight piercing wound to
the pin pricked his finger
b. : to drive a nail into the quick of (a horse) in shoeing
c. : to pierce the skin of (a suspected witch) repeatedly to prove the status by finding spots that fail to bleed
2. : to affect with anguish or grief : sting with or as if with remorse
3.
a. : to ride or guide with spurs or a goad
b. : to urge as if with spurs : incite , impel — sometimes used with on or off
my duty pricks me on to utter that — Shakespeare
4.
a. archaic : to write down (music) in notes
b. : to mark, distinguish, or note (as an item in a list) by means of a small mark — sometimes used with down
pricks down each item
c. : to select (as a candidate) by such pricking
d. : to mark or outline with punctures : trace or form by pricking
prick an embroidery pattern
5. dialect chiefly England : to adorn the person or dress of especially by adding some fancy bauble : prink — often used with up
6. : to search for the tracks of (a hare) : track (a hare) by its footprints
7. obsolete
a. : to make fast or take up on the point of an implement
b. : to fix or insert by the point : thrust or drive (a pointed implement) into something
c. : to fasten with a pointed implement
8.
a. obsolete : to bring into a desired position or relation by or as if by pricking
b. : to remove (a young seedling) from the original container to another suitable for further growth — used with out or off or formerly with forth or in
9. : to cause to be or stand erect ; especially : to raise or bend (the ears) into a position for optimum hearing — usually used with up and especially of a dog or horse
10. : to run a middle seam through (a sail)
11. : to cause (as wine) to undergo an acetic fermentation : spoil by acidifying
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to prick something or cause a pricking sensation
how those briers pricked
also : to be prickly
short spines that prick all over the back
b.
(1) : to become punctured
(2) : to feel a sharp pain as if from being punctured
the elbow pricked and tingled
(3) : to give rise to such a sensation
a healing wound often pricks
2. : to urge a horse with the spur ; also : to ride fast : gallop
pricking through the night
3. : thrust — usually used with at
his neglect pricked at his conscience
4. : to become sharp or acid : spoil by souring — used of beverages (as wine)
5.
a. : to point or become directed upward
steeples pricking toward the sky
b. of an ear : to be in a position of attention
the dog's ears pricked up at the sound
6. chiefly dialect : prink
Synonyms: see perforate , urge
•
- prick up one's ears
III. adjective
: standing erect
prick ears are a disqualification for this breed
: erected in a position of attention
a startled horse with sharply prick ears
: listening
keep your ears prick for any information we can use