picar

Senses

1. 1.

   to prick; to sting

   to pierce or puncture with a sharp point; to cause a stinging sensation

2. 2.

   to chop; to mince

   to cut into small pieces

3. 3.

   to itch; to tingle

   to cause an itching or tingling sensation on the skin

4. 4.

   to tease; to provoke

   to ridicule or annoy someone in a playful or irritating way

Examples

• "A agulha picou meu dedo."

  The needle pricked my finger.

• "Vou picar a cebola para o tempero."

  I'm going to chop the onion for the seasoning.

• "Minha pele está picando por causa da seca."

  My skin is itching because of the dryness.

Usage

A versatile verb with multiple uses: physical puncture/stinging, culinary (chopping), tactile sensation (itching), and social (teasing). Common in everyday speech across all registers. Note: "picar" can also mean "to bet" in gambling contexts or "to bite" (of insects/snakes).