noun
definition
Something that gives a pricking sensation; a sharp object.
adjective
definition
Covered with sharp points.
example
The prickly pear is a cactus; you have to peel it before eating it to remove the spines and the tough skin.
definition
Easily irritated.
example
He has a prickly personality. He doesn't get along with people because he is easily set off.
definition
Difficult; complicated; (figuratively) hairy or thorny.
example
It was a prickly situation.
adverb
definition
In a prickly manner.
Examples of prickly in a Sentence
I'll beat Old Prickly, all right.
Prickly forms of Statice and Astragalus cover the dry hills.
The caroub tree and the prickly pear are extensively cultivated.
The entire valley of the Rio Grande, from El Paso to Brownsville, grows many species of cactus, and other prickly coriaceous shrubs.
The flowers have an urn-shaped calyx which persists around the fruit and is strongly veined, with five stiff, broad, almost prickly lobes; these, when the soft matter is removed by maceration, form very elegant specimens when associated with leaves prepared in a similar way.
Maybe it was better he was so prickly.
At the base of the tube, in both groups, the ovary becomes developed into a fleshy (often edible) fruit, that produced by the Opuntia being known as the prickly pear or Indian fig.
Opuntia, the prickly pear, or Indian fig cactus, is a large typical group, comprising some 150 species, found in North America, the West Indies, and warmer parts of South America, extending as far as Chile.
On the more barren soil the sumach shrub, the leaves of which are used for tanning, and the prickly pear grow freely.
Some have held that it is a prickly shrub, Zizyphus Lotus, which bears a sweet-tasting fruit, and still grows in the old home of the Lotophagi.
Tuna are much eaten under the name of prickly pears, and are greatly esteemed for their cooling properties.
Helena is delightfully situated with Mt Helena as a background in the hollow of the Prickly Pear valley, a rich agricultural region surrounded by rolling hills and lofty mountains, and contains many fine buildings, including the state capitol, county court house, the Montana club house, high school, the cathedral of St Helena, a federal building, and the United States assay office.
The prickly poppy (Argemone grandiflora) is a fine Mexican perennial with large white flowers.
Among the natural flora may be noted the wild olive, the lentisk (from which oil is extracted), the prickly pear, the myrtle, broom, cytisus, the juniper.
Ilex, usually a smaller tree, frequently of rather shrub-like appearance, with abundant glossy dark-green leaves, generally ovate in shape and more or less prickly at the margin, but sometimes with the edges entire; the under surface is hoary; the acorns are oblong on short stalks.
In the swamps are the bald cypress, the white cedar and the live oak, usually draped in southern long moss; south of Cape Fear river are palmettos, magnolias, prickly ash, the American olive and mock orange; along streams in the Coastal Plain Region are the sour gum, the sweet bay and several species of oak; but the tree that is most predominant throughout the upland portion of this region is the long-leaf or southern pine.
A thousand mountain torrents have scooped out for themselves picturesque ravines, clothed with an ever-fresh verdure of prickly thorns, stunted gnarled shrubs, and here and there a noble forest tree.
Of the Characeae many are so exceedingly brittle that it is best to float them out like sea-weeds, except the prickly species, which may be carefully laid out on bibulous paper, and when dry fastened on sheets of white paper by means of gummed strips.
The best-known fruits, besides dates and grapes, are figs, sycamore-figs and pomegranates, apricots and peaches, oranges and citrons, lemons and limes, bananas, which are believed to be of the fruits of Paradise (being always in season), different kinds of melons (including some of aromatic flavour, and the refreshing water-melon), mulberries, Indian figs or prickly pears, the fruit of the lotus and olives.
The latter are borne three together, invested by a cupule of four green bracts, which, as the fruit matures, grow to form the tough green prickly envelope surrounding the group of generally three nuts.
Plant wildlife-friendly vegetation, such as prickly bushes and thick climbers in the garden to provide secure cover for birds.
I might resort to extremely prickly plants round the edge.
It is a prickly shrub that can form extensive patches.
On the small land trail, the main feature is the unique giant prickly pear cactus.
The flower head becomes a prickly seed head, with each individual flower producing a stiff spiky calyx holding the seed.
Prickly sow-thistle seeds ingested by earthworms have been found intact in the worm casts.
A barrier of prickly hedge may be all the protection you need around your property.
It isn't a good idea to plant prickly holly among your flower borders.
Some of these topics will be followed up - for example on prickly pear.
Creature Features Creature Features is a BRAND NEW interactive animal land with inquisitive meerkats, wallabies, rheas, skunks and prickly porcupines.
Climb the crack to the holly, which now looks very prickly!
I caught my foot on some rather prickly undergrowth which split the top of the boot.
If they sound a little prickly for you, don't worry.
Alan Shearer was too prickly, Nigel Mansell too dull.
But what I don't understand is why digital converts get so prickly whenever anyone points out the limitations of digital imaging?
It meant I could cover up when the cloud came in, or if the undergrowth became prickly.
The local stalls sell prickly pears, aubergines in every shape and colored Coca-Cola bottles filled with a yogurt drink.
Cacti, including prickly pear were common in lower areas.
On the sandy beach the strand plant Salsola kali spp kali prickly saltwort Helys Ysbigog was found.
Its beak is long and narrow enough to extract seeds from prickly thistles, on which it is often seen feeding.
In choosing species for planting, prickly ones are an obvious choice to discourage vandalism.
This will create a very dense, prickly evergreen hedge, which is shade tolerant, retaining the bright variegation even in the shade.
Prickly pear is the popular name for species of Opuntia (see Cactus).
The shores are fringed with the mangrove; the prickly pear grows luxuriantly in the most barren districts; and wherever the ground is left to itself the sage bush springs up profusely.
Some 320 species of fern have been collected, and there are large numbers of spiny and prickly plants, as well as numerous grasses, reeds and rushes, many of them of great service in the native manufactures of mats, hats, baskets, &c.
The reader can almost feel prickly cool touch of air on the skin.
The plant produces a thick straight stalk which holds a cluster of prickly heads.
This herbal tincture is a blend of herbal extracts including chamomile, prickly ash, burdock root, and devil's claw.
The sensation is often described as prickly.
As you know, boys your age can be a little prickly.