ENGLISH
REFERENCE

prick

v. · n.
US //ˈpɹɪk// UK //pɹˈɪk// prick
  1. 1 to pierce slightly (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to make a very small hole in something with a sharp object like a needle.

    to pierce or puncture a surface slightly with a sharp, pointed instrument.

    Example

    The nurse will prick your finger to get a small drop of blood for the test.

    Example

    The tailor had to prick the heavy leather multiple times with an awl before he could pass the waxed thread through.

    Usage

    Often used with a direct object representing the body part or material being pierced.
  2. 2 animal ears (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    when an animal moves its ears upward to listen carefully.

    to erect or raise the ears into a pointed position, typically in response to a sound; usually followed by 'up'.

    Example

    The dog pricked up its ears when it heard the front door open.

    Example

    The horse pricked its ears forward, sensing a movement in the tall grass long before the rider noticed anything.

    Usage

    Commonly appears in the phrasal form 'prick up'.
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  1. 3 gardening (v.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Cooking

    to move small young plants into bigger pots or holes in the ground.

    to transplant seedlings into small holes made in soil, typically to give them more room to grow.

    Example

    It is time to prick out the tomato seedlings into individual pots.

    Example

    After the first true leaves appear, you should carefully prick out the seedlings to prevent overcrowding in the seed tray.

    Usage

    Usually functions as the phrasal verb 'prick out'.
  2. 4 a small hole or pain (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a tiny hole made by something sharp, or the quick sting you feel from it.

    a small perforation or the sharp, transient sensation of being punctured.

    Example

    You might feel a slight prick in your arm when the needle goes in.

    Example

    The sudden prick of a thorn on her thumb made her drop the rose she was pruning.
  3. 5 rude person (n.)
    C1 Advanced Slang Vulgar

    a very rude or annoying man.

    a vulgar pejorative used to describe an unpleasant, arrogant, or contemptible male.

    Example

    He was being a real prick at the party, insulting everyone he talked to.

    Example

    The manager was widely regarded as a prick due to his habit of belittling subordinates in front of the entire office.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a highly offensive term in many contexts; learners should be aware of its strength before using it.
  4. 6 penis (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Slang Vulgar

    a vulgar word for the penis.

    a vulgar slang term for the penis.

    Example

    The graffiti on the wall showed a crude drawing of a prick.

    Example

    The script was censored because it contained several vulgar references to the male anatomy, including the word prick.
Etymology 1

From Middle English prik, prikke, from Old English prica, pricu (“a sharp point, minute mark, spot, dot, small portion, prick”), from Proto-West Germanic prikō, priku, from Proto-Germanic prikô, prikō (“a prick, point”), of uncertain origin, perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *breyǵ- (“to scrape, scratch, rub, prickle, chap”). Cognate with West Frisian prik (“small hole”), West Frisian prikke (“penis”), Dutch prik (“point, small stick", also "penis”), Danish prik (“dot”), Icelandic prik (“dot, small stick”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English prikken, from Old English prician, priccan (“to prick”), from Proto-Germanic prikōną, prikjaną (“to pierce, prick”), of uncertain origin; perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *breyǵ- (“to scrape, scratch, rub, prickle, chap”). Cognate with dialectal English pritch, Dutch prikken (“to prick, sting”), Middle High German pfrecken (“to prick”), Swedish pricka (“to dot, prick”), and possibly to Lithuanian įbrėžti (“to scrape, scratch, carve, inscribe, strike”).

Word family
Idioms1 entry

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