prick
/pɹɪk/ verb C2- To pierce or puncture slightly. · John hardly felt the needle prick his arm when the adept nurse drew blood.
- To drive a nail into (a horse's foot), so as to cause lameness.
- To shoot without killing.
- To form by piercing or puncturing. · to prick holes in paper· to prick a pattern for embroidery
- To mark the surface of (something) with pricks or dots; especially, to trace a ship’s course on (a chart).
- To fix by the point; to attach or hang by puncturing.
- To be punctured; to suffer or feel a sharp pain, as by puncture. · A sore finger pricks.
- To make or become sharp; to erect into a point; to raise, as something pointed; said especially of the ears of an animal, such as a horse or dog; and usually followed by up. · The dog's ears pricked up at the sound of a whistle.
He/she/it pricks · Past pricked · Past participle pricked · -ing form pricking
Verb forms
- Base form
- prick
- He/she/it
- pricks
- Past
- pricked
- Past participle
- pricked
- -ing form
- pricking
Phrasal verbs and expressions
From the library
See if I do not prick your neck with my sting.” The Draught-Mule replied, “I do not heed your threats; I only care for him who sits above you, and who quickens my pace with his whip, or holds me back with the reins.
Having pricked and grievously torn the soles of his feet, he accused the Bramble because, when he had fled to her for assistance, she had used him worse than the hedge itself.
Escaping, the Fly said mockingly, “You who have wished to revenge, even with death, the Prick of a tiny insect, see what you have done to yourself to add insult to injury?” The Bald Man replied, “I can easily make peace with myself, because I know there was no intention to hurt.
I can imitate any kind of a bird or beast.” Here he mewed so like a kitten that Toto pricked up his ears and looked everywhere to see where she was.
Other matches
Learn prick in real texts
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