Definition of prick

• v. - That which pricks, penetrates, or punctures; a sharp and slender thing; a pointed instrument; a goad; a spur, etc.; a point; a skewer.
• v. - The act of pricking, or the sensation of being pricked; a sharp, stinging pain; figuratively, remorse.
• v. - A mark made by a pointed instrument; a puncture; a point.
• v. - A point or mark on the dial, noting the hour.
• v. - The point on a target at which an archer aims; the mark; the pin.
• v. - A mark denoting degree; degree; pitch.
• v. - A mathematical point; -- regularly used in old English translations of Euclid.
• v. - The footprint of a hare.
• v. - A small roll; as, a prick of spun yarn; a prick of tobacco.
• n. - To pierce slightly with a sharp-pointed instrument or substance; to make a puncture in, or to make by puncturing; to drive a fine point into; as, to prick one with a pin, needle, etc.; to prick a card; to prick holes in paper.
• n. - To fix by the point; to attach or hang by puncturing; as, to prick a knife into a board.
• n. - To mark or denote by a puncture; to designate by pricking; to choose; to mark; -- sometimes with off.
• n. - To mark the outline of by puncturing; to trace or form by pricking; to mark by punctured dots; as, to prick a pattern for embroidery; to prick the notes of a musical composition.
• n. - To ride or guide with spurs; to spur; to goad; to incite; to urge on; -- sometimes with on, or off.
• n. - To affect with sharp pain; to sting, as with remorse.
• n. - To make sharp; to erect into a point; to raise, as something pointed; -- said especially of the ears of an animal, as a horse or dog; and usually followed by up; -- hence, to prick up the ears, to listen sharply; to have the attention and interest strongly engaged.
• n. - To render acid or pungent.
• n. - To dress; to prink; -- usually with up.
• n. - To run a middle seam through, as the cloth of a sail.
• n. - To trace on a chart, as a ship's course.
• n. - To drive a nail into (a horse's foot), so as to cause lameness.
• n. - To nick.
• v. i. - To be punctured; to suffer or feel a sharp pain, as by puncture; as, a sore finger pricks.
• v. i. - To spur onward; to ride on horseback.
• v. i. - To become sharp or acid; to turn sour, as wine.
• v. i. - To aim at a point or mark.