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prickle Definition

prickle (prik′əl)

noun

  1. any sharp point; specif., a small, sharply pointed spine lacking vascular tissue and growing from the tissue under the outer layer of a plant
  2. a prickly sensation; stinging or tingling

Etymology: ME prykel < OE pricel, earlier pricels < base of prica (see prick) + -els, instrumental suffix

transitive verb -·led, -·ling

  1. to prick, as with a spine or thorn
  2. to cause to feel a tingling sensation

intransitive verb

to tingle

prickle Synonyms

prickle

n.

  1. A needle

    pin, spine, spike; see needle 1, 2.

  2. A sensation

    chill, tingling, tickle; see feeling 1.

prickle Synonyms

prickle

v.

prick, sting, tingle; see tickle 1.

prickle Usage Examples

Object

  • sensation: However, Rachel started to feel a prickling sensation on her face.
  • feeling: This creates pains in the hand and wrist and a " sleeping " prickling feeling in the fingers.
  • pain: Two bright points of pain prickled directly behind Raif's eyes.

Converse of object

  • have: All these leaves have tiny prickles on their edges, which makes them feel rough to the touch.
  • make: Sounding dustier than ever Gil's cracked honey voice still possesses an urgency of spirit that can make goose bumps prickle on your back.
  • curve: They vary in appearance between different localities, but common features include stems covered with short stiff hairs and curved prickles.
  • feel: He could feel a strange prickle of awareness, an unease which wasn't coming from him.

Adjective modifier

  • stout: The bark of the young tree is studded with stout prickles.
  • sharp: The sharp prickles attached to the palm are an embodiment of hyper-sensitivity.
  • many: They count how many prickles on that leaf and return to the number line ( not crossing or disturbing the line ).

Preposition: on

  • back: Those beautiful high harmonies, that sentiment, combine to send the hairs prickling on the back of my neck.
  • leaf: Genuine hedgehog holly, with nasty prickles on every leaf - quite possibly burgular proof.

Modifies a noun

  • cell: They have long processes which run in the spaces between the prickle cells.
  • layer: The prickle cell layer ( stratum spinosum ) is the next layer ( 8-10 layers of cells ).

Noun used with modifier

  • neck: The swans emerge suddenly from under his bed - I felt the hair on the back of my neck prickle.
  • skin: I could listen to his cultured voice for hours, even hearing him comment on the weather was enough to make my skin prickle.