prickle

Everyday

1. A small sharp point on a plant or animal, like on a hedgehog, holly leaf or bramble. tree →
2. A tingling or stinging feeling on your skin. tree →
3. (verb) To give a stinging, tingling feeling: «The wool prickled my neck.» tree →
4. (verb) When your skin or the back of your neck prickles, you feel fear or excitement. tree →

In the lessons

In science, prickles and spines protect plants and animals: a hedgehog rolls up and shows its prickles. In stories, «the hairs on the back of her neck prickled» tells the reader the character senses danger. Phrases: «a prickle of fear», «prickle with tears» (eyes stinging before crying).

Examples

• The hedgehog's prickles kept the fox away. tree →
• My new jumper prickles. tree →
• I felt a prickle of fear when the door creaked. tree →
• Watch out for the prickles on the rose stem. tree →
• Her eyes prickled with tears. tree →
• Mole felt the back of his neck prickle in the Wild Wood. tree →
• Holly leaves have prickles on their edges. tree →
• But one of the tree’s prickles pierced his finger and caused great pain and inflammation, so that the young Prince fell down in a fainting fit. tree →

Note

Prickly is the adjective: «a prickly cactus», «a prickly person» (easily annoyed). Strictly, botanists say prickles grow on the skin of a stem (rose), while thorns and spines are changed branches or leaves, but in everyday talk they are mixed.