Prickle means to feel a light, stinging, tingling sensation on your skin, like tiny pins poking you gently. When your foot falls asleep and then starts to wake up, that uncomfortable pins-and-needles feeling is prickling. Cold wind might make your face prickle, or you might feel your skin prickle when you're nervous or frightened.

The word also describes the small, sharp points on plants like roses, cacti, or blackberry bushes, also called prickles. These thin spines defend the plant from animals that might eat it.

When something prickles, it creates that same sharp, pointed sensation: a wool sweater might prickle against your neck, or dried grass might prickle your bare feet. You might say tears pricked your eyes when you felt sad, meaning you felt that stinging sensation that comes just before crying.