---
title: prick — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «prick» in the school dictionary: To make a tiny hole in something with a sharp point, like a needle or a thorn. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prick/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [P](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/) / prick

# prick

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, animal, I, nurse, dog, princess · **What happens:** make, prick up, raise, listen, prick, bake · **To what, where:** tiny hole, something, tiny mark, ears, finger, rose thorn

<!-- .vabout -->
«prick» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [prick in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/prick.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make a tiny hole in something with a sharp point, like a needle or a thorn.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prick:m1:1
# text = To make a tiny hole in something with a sharp point, like a needle or a thorn.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	hole	hole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	nmod	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	point	point	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	like	like	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	needle	needle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	thorn	thorn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | a tiny hole |  | something |  | like a needle or a thorn | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset hole=Product |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small sharp pain, or the tiny mark made by a sharp point.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prick:m2:1
# text = A small sharp pain, or the tiny mark made by a sharp point.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	pain	pain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	mark	mark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
10	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	acl	_	_
11	by	by	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	point	point	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | participle |  | the tiny mark *not said here* |  |  |  | by a sharp point | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Prick up its ears": when an animal raises its ears to listen carefully.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prick:m3:1
# text = "Prick up its ears": when an animal raises its ears to listen carefully.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Prick	prick	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	ears	ear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
8	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	raises	raise	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
12	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	ears	ear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	listen	listen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	advcl	_	_
16	carefully	carefully	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prick up** *in a quote* | imperative | you *not said here* | its ears |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer ear=Patient |
| 2 | **raise** | present | a animal | animal's ears |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ear=Theme |
| 3 | **listen** | to-infinitive | a animal *not said here* |  |  |  |  | carefully *property* | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I pricked my finger on a rose thorn.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prick:x1:1
# text = I pricked my finger on a rose thorn.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	pricked	prick	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	finger	finger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	rose	rose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	thorn	thorn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prick** | past | I | my finger |  | a rose thorn |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer finger=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Prick the potatoes with a fork before baking them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prick:x2:1
# text = Prick the potatoes with a fork before baking them.
1	Prick	prick	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	potatoes	potato	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	fork	fork	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	baking	bake	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
9	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prick** | imperative | you *not said here* | the potatoes |  |  |  | with a fork | vn poke-19-1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent potato=Patient with fork=Instrument |
| 2 | **bake** | gerund | you *not said here* | potatoes *= potato* |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The nurse pricked my finger to check my blood.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prick:x3:1
# text = The nurse pricked my finger to check my blood.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	nurse	nurse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	pricked	prick	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	finger	finger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	check	check	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	blood	blood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prick** | past | the nurse | my finger |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer finger=Patient |
| 2 | **check** | to-infinitive | the nurse *not said here* | my blood |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent blood=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dog pricked up its ears when it heard the gate.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prick:x4:1
# text = The dog pricked up its ears when it heard the gate.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	pricked	prick	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	ears	ear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	gate	gate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prick up** | past | the dog | dog's ears |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer ear=Patient |
| 2 | **hear** | past | dog | the gate |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer gate=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I felt a little prick when I got the injection.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prick:x5:1
# text = I felt a little prick when I got the injection.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	prick	prick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
7	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	injection	injection	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | I | a little prick |  |  |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent prick=Theme |
| 2 | **get** | past | I | the injection |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer injection=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the fairy tale, the princess pricks her finger on a spinning wheel.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prick:x6:1
# text = In the fairy tale, the princess pricks her finger on a spinning wheel.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	fairy	fairy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	tale	tale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	princess	princess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	pricks	prick	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	finger	finger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	spinning	spin	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	14	amod	_	_
14	wheel	wheel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prick** | present | the princess | princess's finger |  | the fairy tale |  | on a spinning wheel | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer finger=Patient |
| 2 | **spin** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Be careful not to prick yourself with the sewing needle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prick:x7:1
# text = Be careful not to prick yourself with the sewing needle.
1	Be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	cop	_	_
2	careful	careful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	prick	prick	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
6	yourself	yourself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	5	obj	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	sewing	sewing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	needle	needle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | careful *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **prick** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | yourself |  |  |  | with the sewing needle | vn poke-19-1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent yourself=Patient with needle=Instrument |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Shepherd Dogs pricked up their ears.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prick:x8:1
# text = The Shepherd Dogs pricked up their ears.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Shepherd	shepherd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	Dogs	dog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
4	pricked	prick	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	amod	_	_
5	up	up	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	ears	ear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prick up** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [pricey](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pricey/)
- next →: [prickle](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prickle/)
- ↑ back to [P in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/)