1. use force in order to move, move apart, or open (something): "I tried to prise Joe's fingers away from the stick"Similarleverforcewrenchpullwresttwistjimmypry
▪ obtain something from (someone) with effort or difficulty:"I got the loan, though I had to prise it out of him"Similarextract/obtain with difficultyworm outwinkle out
Word Originlate 16th century: from dialect prise ‘lever’, from Old French prise ‘grasp, taking hold’. Compare with pry2.
