Library / English Dictionary

PRICKLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A small sharp-pointed tip resembling a spike on a stem or leaf

Synonyms:

pricker; prickle; spikelet; spine; sticker; thorn

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Hypernyms ("prickle" is a kind of...):

aculeus (a stiff sharp-pointed plant process)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "prickle"):

glochid; glochidium (a barbed spine or bristle (often tufted on cacti))

Derivation:

prickly (having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or thorns or setae etc.)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make a small hole into, as with a needle or a thorn

Example:

The nurse pricked my finger to get a small blood sample

Synonyms:

prick; prickle

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "prickle" is one way to...):

pierce (make a hole into)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "prickle"):

needle (prick with a needle)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Cause a stinging or tingling sensation

Synonyms:

prickle; tingle

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "prickle" is one way to...):

itch (have or perceive an itch)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody's (body part) ----s

Derivation:

prickling (a somatic sensation as from many tiny stings)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Cause a prickling sensation

Synonyms:

prick; prickle

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "prickle" is one way to...):

prick; sting; twinge (cause a stinging pain)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody's (body part) ----s

Derivation:

prickling (a somatic sensation as from many tiny stings)

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