with obj.
1
- make a small hole in (something) with a sharp point; pierce slightly刺（孔）, 戳（洞）, 扎（穿）：
prick the potatoes all over with a fork.
用叉子把土豆戳个遍。
1.1
- no obj. feel a sensation as though a sharp point were sticking into one感到刺痛：
she felt her scalp prick and her palms were damp.
她感觉头皮一阵刺痛, 手心潮湿。
1.2
- (of tears) cause the sensation of imminent weeping in (a person's eyes)（眼泪）引起刺痛：
tears of disappointment were pricking her eyelids.
失望的眼泪刺痛了她的眼皮。
1.3
- no obj.(of a person's eyes) experience such a sensation（人的眼睛）发酸。
1.4
- cause mental or emotional discomfort to刺伤感情; 使内心痛苦：
her conscience pricked her as she told the lie.
她撒谎时良心受到折磨。
1.5
- arouse or provoke to action驱使, 驱策：
the police were pricked into action by the horrifying sight.
恐怖的场面促使警察采取行动。
2
- （一般作be pricked）(especially of a horse or dog) make (the ears) stand erect when on the alert（尤指马或狗）使（耳朵）竖起; 使直立：
the dog's tail was wagging and her ears were pricked.
狗摇着尾巴, 竖起耳朵。
1
- an act of piercing something with a fine, sharp point刺, 戳, 扎：
the pin prick had produced a drop of blood.
针扎出了一滴血。
1.1
- a small hole or mark made by piercing something with a fine, sharp point戳孔; 刺痕; 刺孔; 刺点。
1.2
- a sharp pain caused by being pierced with a fine point刺痛。
1.3
- a sudden feeling of distress, anxiety, or some other unpleasant emotion刺痛, 沮丧; 焦急：
she felt a prick of resentment.
她感到一阵愤恨。
1.4
- archaic a goad for oxen〈古〉赶牛棒。
2
- vulgar slang a man's penis〈粗俚〉阴茎。
2.1
- a man regarded as stupid, unpleasant, or contemptible蠢货; 讨厌鬼; 卑鄙的人。
短语
kick against the pricks
- hurt oneself by persisting in useless resistance or protest以卵击石; 螳臂挡车。
- ORIGIN: with biblical allusion to Acts 9:5.
prick up one's ears
1
- (especially of a horse or dog) make the ears stand erect when on the alert（尤指马或狗）警惕地竖起耳朵。
1.1
- (of a person) become suddenly attentive（人）突然开始注意。
a spare prick at a wedding
- Brit. vulgar slang a person who is out of place or has no role in a particular situation〈英, 粗俚〉格格不入的人, 不合时宜的人。
派生词
pricker
noun词源
Old English pricca (noun)， prician (verb)， probably of West Germanic origin and related to Low German and Dutch prik (noun)， prikken (verb).
短语动词
prick something out
1
- draw a picture or pattern by making small holes in a surface用刺痕（或刺孔、小圆点）标出：
he pricked out a rough design with his dagger.
他用匕首戳出一个粗略的图案。
1.1
- decorate a surface in this way以刺痕（或刺孔、小圆点）装饰。
2
- plant seedlings in small holes made in the earth将幼苗移植到小土洞里：
he was in the garden pricking out marigolds.
他在花园里把万寿菊幼苗移植到小土洞里。