prickly

Word family

Related topics: Plants

prick·ly /ˈprɪkli/ adjectiveadj

1 HBPcovered with thin sharp points 布满刺的，多刺的

a plant with prickly leaves

长有多刺叶子的植物

► see thesaurus at sharp →4 See picture on 见图 Page A12 Surfaces 表面

2 if your skin feels prickly, it stings slightly 〔皮肤〕有刺痛感的

His skin felt painful and prickly.

他的皮肤有刺痛感。

The base of my neck was prickly with sweat.

我的脖子根出了汗，觉得刺痛。

3 FEEL HOT/COLD/TIRED ETCsomething that is prickly makes your skin sting slightly 引起刺痛的

a prickly woollen sweater

扎人的毛衣

4 informalANNOY someone who is prickly gets annoyed or offended easily 〔人〕易生气的，易动怒的

She was prickly and sharp with me.

她爱生气，对我又尖刻。

As she got older, she became more prickly and forgetful.

随着年龄的增长，她变得越来越容易动怒，也越来越健忘。

5 PROBLEMa prickly subject causes a lot of disagreements and difficulties 棘手的，难处理的

We finally turned to the prickly question of who was going to pay.

最后我们谈到了这个棘手的问题——谁来付钱。

—prickliness noun [uncountableU]

Examples from the Corpus

prickly• But his interference in this issue was making her prickly.• Problems at the office were making Todd very prickly.• As prickly as a saguaro cactus.• prickly bushes• The prickly distrust had faded to be replaced by an almost oily helpfulness.• Although they are not completely spiny, they are nevertheless prickly enough to repel all but the most desperate of predators.• A prickly heat pressed against his face; the teakettle made hissing sounds in the night.• Myer carefully avoided the prickly issue of offshore drilling rights.• My eyes feel all hot and my head's prickly like some one's pulled my hair.• Keep prickly plants and bushes away from any paths and seats in the garden.• Every president needs a prickly political hairshirt, and Clinton has one in Mario Cuomo.• Sea urchins and starfish feel prickly to the touch.• His cheeks were prickly with a two-day growth of beard.

prick·ly adjectiveadj

Chinese

Syllable

Corpus