pricking
/'prikiɳ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- The act or sensation of making a small, sharp puncture or sting: Refers to the action of piercing something slightly with a sharp point, or the resulting brief, sharp feeling.
- A small mark or puncture made by a sharp point: Can refer to the physical mark left by such an action.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- She felt a sharp pricking in her finger from the thorn.
- The pricking of the needle was quick and nearly painless.
- The map showed our route with a series of prickings from a pin.
Advanced Usage
- "Pricking of (one's) conscience": A feeling of guilt or moral unease.
- He felt a pricking of his conscience after telling the lie.
- "Pricking out" (Gardening): The process of transplanting young seedlings.
- After germination, the next step is pricking out the seedlings into individual pots.
Variants and Related Words
- Prick (verb/noun): To make a small hole with a sharp point; a small hole or sharp pain.
- Prickle (noun/verb): A small, sharp thorn or spine; to cause a tingling or stinging sensation.
- Prickly (adjective): Covered in prickles; easily irritated.
Synonyms
- Puncture: To make a hole by piercing.
- Sting: A sharp, burning pain, often from an insect or plant.
- Piercing: Penetrating with a sharp point.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Prick up (one's ears): To suddenly begin listening attentively.
- The dog pricked up its ears at the strange sound.
Related Idioms
- Prick the bubble (of something): To destroy an illusion or over-optimistic belief.
- The harsh report pricked the bubble of their enthusiasm for the project.
Noun
- the act of puncturing with a small point
- he gave the balloon a small prick