Definition

1. 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

1. the act of puncturing with a small point
   • he gave the balloon a small prick