1. Make a small hole into, as with a needle or a thorn
   "The nurse pricked my finger to get a small blood sample";
   - prickle
    
2. Cause a stinging pain
   "The needle pricked his skin";
   - sting, twinge
    
3. To cause a sharp emotional pain
   "The thought of her unhappiness pricked his conscience"
    
4. Cause a prickling sensation
   "The cactus pricked his finger";
   - prickle
    
5. Stab or urge on as if with a pointed stick
   "She pricked the horse with her spurs";
   - goad
    
6. To stick up
   "The dog pricked up his ears";
   - prick up, cock up
    
7. Deliver a sting to
   "A bee pricked my arm yesterday";
   - sting, bite

1. The act of puncturing with a small point
   "he gave the balloon a small prick";
   - pricking
    
2. A depression scratched or carved into a surface
   "make pricks in the surface of the cake";
   - incision, scratch, slit
    
3. A sharp stinging or tingling sensation
   "He felt a prick of pain as the thorn brushed his skin"
    
4. [vulgar, offensive, informal] Insulting term of address for people who are stupid, irritating or ridiculous
   "Don't be such a prick and apologize for your mistake";
    
5. [vulgar, informal] Obscene term for penis
   "The comedian's joke about his prick made the audience laugh uncomfortably";

Derived forms: pricked, pricking, pricks

Type of: ache, arouse, depression, disagreeable person, elicit, enkindle [literary], erect, evoke, hurt, impression, imprint, jab, kindle, member, penis, phallus, pierce, provoke, puncture, raise, rear, stab, suffer, unpleasant person

Encyclopedia: Prick