prick

Pronunciation

• IPA: /pɹɪk/, [pʰɹ̠̊ɪk]

Noun

prick (plural pricks)

1. A small hole or perforation, caused by piercing.
2. An indentation or small mark made with a pointed object.
3. (obsolete) A dot or other diacritical mark used in writing; a point.
4. (obsolete) A tiny particle; a small amount of something; a jot.
5. A small pointed object.
6. The experience or feeling of being pierced or punctured by a small, sharp object.
   • I felt a sharp prick as the nurse took a sample of blood.
7. A feeling of remorse.
8. (slang, vulgar) The penis.
9. (UK, Australia, US, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, South Africa, slang, derogatory) Someone (especially a man or boy) who is unpleasant, rude or annoying.
10. (now historical) A small roll of yarn or tobacco.
11. The footprint of a hare.
12. (obsolete) A point or mark on the dial, noting the hour.
13. (obsolete) The point on a target at which an archer aims; the mark; the pin.

Verb

prick (third-person singular simple present pricks, present participle pricking, simple past and past participle pricked)

1. (transitive) To pierce or puncture slightly.
   • John hardly felt the needle prick his arm when the adept nurse drew blood.
   1. (farriery) To drive a nail into (a horse's foot), so as to cause lameness.
   2. (transitive, hunting) To shoot without killing.
2. (transitive) To form by piercing or puncturing.
   • to prick holes in paper
   • to prick a pattern for embroidery
   • to prick the notes of a musical composition
3. (obsolete) To mark or denote by a puncture; to designate by pricking; to choose; to mark.
4. (transitive, chiefly nautical) To mark the surface of (something) with pricks or dots; especially, to trace a ship’s course on (a chart).
5. (nautical, obsolete) To run a middle seam through the cloth of a sail.
6. To fix by the point; to attach or hang by puncturing.
7. (intransitive, dated) To be punctured; to suffer or feel a sharp pain, as by puncture.
   • A sore finger pricks.
8. (transitive, intransitive) To make or become sharp; to erect into a point; to raise, as something pointed; said especially of the ears of an animal, such as a horse or dog; and usually followed by up.
   • The dog's ears pricked up at the sound of a whistle.
9. (horticulture) Usually in the form prick out: to plant (seeds or seedlings) in holes made in soil at regular intervals.
10. (transitive) To incite, stimulate, goad.
11. (intransitive, archaic) To urge one's horse on; to ride quickly.
12. To affect with sharp pain; to sting, as with remorse.
13. (transitive) To make acidic or pungent.
14. (intransitive) To become sharp or acid; to turn sour, as wine.
15. To aim at a point or mark.
16. (obsolete, usually as prick up) to dress or adorn; to prink.

Adverb

prick

1. on the dot, exactly, sharp
   • vi träffas prick klockan sju

     • we'll meet at seven o'clock sharp
2. with careful aim (in order to hit something)
   • att skjuta prick

     • to shoot at a mark / snipe
   • De sköt prick på en melon

     • They used a melon as a target ("They shot with careful aim at a melon")

Noun

prick c

1. a dot, small spot
   • Sista bokstaven i det svenska alfabetet är "ö", det vill säga ett "o" med två prickar över.

     • The last letter in the Swedish alphabet is "ö", that is, an "o" with two dots over it.
   • att skjuta prick ― to shoot for a target
2. a mark, a stain (in a record of good behavior)
   • Han har haft körkort i 40 år och kört utan prickar

     • He's had a driver's license for 40 years and has received zero driving infractions
3. a guy, person; especially about a particularly nice or funny one
   • Det var en riktigt trevlig prick, det där.

     • That was a really nice guy, there.
4. a floating seamark in the form of a painted pole, possibly with cones, lights and reflectors
   • Ser du om pricken därborta är en nord eller en ost?

     • Can you see whether the mark over there is a north mark or an east mark?