prickle
noun · verb
Simple meaning
A sharp, hard extension of the cortex and epidermis of some plants, informally called a "thorn".
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
prikuhlSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈpɹɪkəl
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
botany
A sharp, hard extension of the cortex and epidermis of some plants (such as roses), informally called a "thorn".
A small, sharp pointed object similar to the true prickle, such as a thorn.
A small sharp-pointed tip resembling a spike on a stem or leaf
A tingling sensation of mild discomfort.
A kind of willow basket.
verb
transitive
To cause (someone) to feel a prickle; to prick.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- C2 · Proficient (estimated)
- Typical Use
- Rare
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: A tingling sensation of mild discomfort.
Used this way, prickle is a reasonably familiar word with a faintly unfavourable edge. It stays understated rather than dramatic. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.
- Emotional tone
- Slightly negative
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Mild
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Critical or judgemental
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Nearby words
- spine , a specialist term, precise but narrower
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
Share your sentence
Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
Perennial herb of North American prairies having dense heads of small white flowers.
A cell in the germinal layer of the skin (the prickle-cell layer).
More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin
Synonyms
Sense: sharp
Use This Word
See how this word sounds in a real sentence.
Ask Vocabaura
Understand the word your way.
What Does It Mean Here?
Words can change meaning depending on context.
Use it yourself
Keep learning “prickle” by choosing the kind of practice you need next.
- Practice sentence writingWrite sentences with vocabulary and get instant feedback.
- Practice in contextAnswer short vocabulary questions drawn from real situations.
- Review vocabularyTest your recall and strengthen words over time.
- Practice typingType vocabulary in short rounds that draw from words you've learned and saved.
Want to type words like this one without looking at the keyboard? Each typing round draws from words you've learned, saved or need to review. Follow the free Learn to Type lessons and type your own vocabulary with confidence.
Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.