prick
prick [prick pricks pricked pricking] verb, noun BrE [prɪk] NAmE [prɪk]
verb
1. transitive to make a very small hole in sth with a sharp point
•~ sth He pricked the balloon and burst it.
•~ sth with sth Prick holes in the paper with a pin.
2. transitive ~ sth (on sth) to make a small hole in the skin so that it hurts or blood comes out
•She pricked her finger on a needle.
3. intransitive, transitive to make sb feel a slight pain as if they were being pricked
•He felt a pricking sensation in his throat.
•~ sth Tears pricked her eyes.
Verb forms: 
Word Origin:
Old English pricca (noun), prician (verb), probably of West Germanic origin and related to Low German and Dutch prik (noun), prikken (verb).
Idioms: ↑prick your conscience ▪ ↑prick your ears ▪ ↑your conscience pricks you
noun
1. (taboo, slang)a ↑penis
2. (taboo, slang)an offensive word for a stupid or unpleasant man
•Don't be such a prick!
3. an act of making a very small hole in sth with a sharp point
•I'm going to give your finger a little prick with this needle.
4. a slight pain caused by a sharp point or sth that feels like a sharp point
•You will feel a tiny prick in your arm.
• (figurative)He could feel the hot prick of tears in his eyes.
•She felt the prick of conscience.
Word Origin:
Old English pricca (noun), prician (verb), probably of West Germanic origin and related to Low German and Dutch prik (noun), prikken (verb).
See also: ↑your ears prick up
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