prickly heat: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal medical, everyday
Quick answer
What does “prickly heat” mean?
A skin rash caused by inflammation of sweat ducts, typically appearing as small red itchy bumps.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A skin rash caused by inflammation of sweat ducts, typically appearing as small red itchy bumps.
A common condition (medically termed miliaria) occurring in hot, humid weather when sweat becomes trapped in the skin.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More commonly used in UK English; US speakers might use 'heat rash' more frequently.
Connotations
Both varieties understand the term, with 'prickly' emphasizing the uncomfortable itching/stinging sensation.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK English, but both are standard.
Grammar
How to Use “prickly heat” in a Sentence
get prickly heathave prickly heatdevelop prickly heatVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “prickly heat” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not typically used
Academic
Used in medical/health contexts
Everyday
Common in personal health discussions
Technical
Medical term: miliaria
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “prickly heat”
- Using 'prickly heat' for allergic rashes
- Capitalizing the term as if it's a proper noun
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, prickly heat is not contagious; it's caused by blocked sweat ducts, not by a virus or bacteria.
Prickly heat is directly caused by heat and humidity blocking sweat glands, while eczema is a chronic inflammatory condition often linked to allergies or genetics.
Yes, while common in infants, adults can also develop prickly heat, especially in hot climates or during strenuous activity.
Cooling the skin, avoiding further sweating, wearing loose clothing, and using calamine lotion or specialized powders are common remedies.
A skin rash caused by inflammation of sweat ducts, typically appearing as small red itchy bumps.
Prickly heat is usually informal medical, everyday in register.
Prickly heat: in British English it is pronounced /ˌprɪk.li ˈhiːt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌprɪk.li ˈhit/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'prickly' like tiny needles (the itch) + 'heat' (the cause).
Conceptual Metaphor
HEAT IS AN AGGRESSOR (causing physical irritation)
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is a typical characteristic of prickly heat?