Prick
/prɪk/
nounverbB2
Definition
As a noun, "prick" is a small, sharp point like a tiny thorn or needle that can cause a quick, slight pain. As a verb, it means to make a small hole or to sting or poke someone or something gently but sharply, usually with a pointed object.
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⚡ See It in Action
Small sharp point or sting (noun)
- •I felt a prick on my finger from the rose thorn.
- •The prick of a needle can hurt but is very quick.
- •Be careful of the prick on that cactus!
To make a small hole or sting with a sharp object (verb)
- •The nurse pricked my arm to take a blood sample.
- •She pricked the balloon with a pin, and it popped.
- •He pricked his finger while sewing.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "prick" like "poke" (A1 word), but with a sharp, quick feeling that can hurt a little
- ✓Picture the small pain when a needle touches your skin for a moment, like a tiny sharp point touching you
- ✓It's the feeling when you accidentally touch a thorn or a small sharp object and feel a quick sting
- ✓Sounds like "prick" → imagine a small sharp stick quickly touching your finger, making a tiny hole or sting
- ✓Think of the story of "Sleeping Beauty," who was pricked by a spindle and fell asleep
- ✓NOT like "scratch" (which is a longer, softer touch); "prick" is quick and sharp
- ✓NOT like "cut" (which is a bigger injury); "prick" is very small and usually not serious
- ✓NOT like "poke" (which can be soft or hard); "prick" always involves something sharp and quick
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Stab: to push a sharp object into something (Use when the action is stronger and deeper than a prick)
- •Pierce: to make a hole through something (Use when the hole is more serious or larger)
- •Jab: to push quickly and sharply (Use when the action is quick and forceful, often with a finger or stick)
- •Sting: to cause a sharp, burning pain (Use when the feeling is more about pain than making a hole)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: The word "prick" is a simple root word with no prefix or suffix
- •Etymology: From Old English "priccian," meaning to pierce or stab with a pointed object
- •Historical development: Used since early English to describe small sharp points or the action of piercing lightly
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe small sharp pains or actions involving needles, thorns, or small pointed objects; also used figuratively in some contexts
💭 Reflect & Connect
•How do small sharp sensations like a prick affect our awareness of danger or safety?
•Can the word "prick" be used in emotional or social situations beyond physical meaning? How?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.The nurse used a needle to prick my skin ___ collect a small amount of blood.
2.I felt a quick prick on my finger when I accidentally touched the ___ of the rose.
3.A prick is different from a cut because it is usually much ___ and less painful.
4.When you prick a balloon with a pin, it usually ___ immediately.
5.The word "prick" often describes a ___ touch with something sharp, not a soft poke.
6.After the prick, the small hole in the skin may ___ a little but will heal fast.
7.If you only poke someone gently, it is not the same as a ___ because a prick is sharper and quicker.