pinprick
pinprick Lexical Profile
pinprick Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A very small puncture or mark made by or as if by a pin.
"The nurse swabbed the tiny pinprick on the patient's finger after drawing a drop of blood."
A tiny dot or speck, especially of light.
"Through the heavy fog, the distant lighthouse appeared as nothing more than a faint pinprick of light."
A minor, petty annoyance or trifling irritation.
"The daily administrative delays were mere pinpricks compared to the major budget crisis facing the department."
• verb
To pierce slightly with a pin or similar sharp point, or to mark with tiny punctures.
"The baker used a fork to pinprick the pastry dough so it would not bubble in the oven."
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in Middle English as a compound of 'pin' (from Old English 'pinn', meaning a peg or point) and 'prick' (from Old English 'prica', meaning a sharp point or puncture).