pinprick
noun, verb
pinprick is spelled P-I-N-P-R-I-C-K: 8 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 10 million words in written English, the 95,993rd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, pinprick means “An insignificant puncture made by a pin or similar point” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of pinprick is pinpricks.
How many letters and syllables are in pinprick?
| Letters | 8: P-I-N-P-R-I-C-K |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 10 million words; the 95,993rd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is pinprick?
Pinprick appears about once in every 10 million words in written English, the 95,993rd most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce pinprick?
Pinprick has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Forms of pinprick
- pinpricks plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- pin-prick
- pinpricking participle, present
- pinpricked participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does pinprick mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
An insignificant puncture made by a pin or similar point.
- 2
A mildly annoying wound or damage.
- 3
A very tiny dot.
The stars were pinpricks of light in a clear night sky.
verb
- 1
To produce a jabbing sensation, like a pinprick, in.
The water pinpricked her face as she stepped into the shower.
- 2
To puncture with a tiny hole or holes.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Pinprick in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense an insignificant puncture made by a pin or similar point:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| German | Nadelstich |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does pinprick come from?
From pin + prick.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).