Tingle is that peculiar prickling or stinging sensation you feel on your skin, like when your foot falls asleep and then starts to wake up. It's not quite pain and not quite tickling: it's somewhere in between, often described as feeling like tiny pins and needles dancing across your skin.

You might feel a tingle when you sit with your legs crossed for too long and cut off circulation, or when you come inside from the cold and your frozen fingers start warming up. Some people feel a pleasant tingle of excitement running down their spine when they hear their favorite song or watch a thrilling moment in a movie. Others experience an unpleasant tingle when they accidentally touch something electric or when a limb “falls asleep.”

The word can also mean to cause this sensation: Cold water tingles your skin when you jump into a pool. Scientists explain that tingles happen when nerves send confused or reawakening signals to your brain, creating that characteristic prickly feeling. While usually harmless and temporary, a tingle is your body's way of saying “something unusual is happening here.” If tingling doesn't go away or keeps happening, it's a good idea to tell a trusted adult.