itch

¹itch

verb \ˈich\

Definition of ITCH

intransitive verb

1

a : to have an itch <her arm itched>

b : to produce an itchy sensation <long underwear that itches>

2

: to have a restless desire or hankering for something <were itching to go outside>

transitive verb

1

: to cause to itch

2

: vex, irritate

Examples of ITCH

1. His eyes began to burn and itch because of his allergies.
2. This sweater makes me itch.

Origin of ITCH

Middle English icchen, from Old English giccan; akin to Old High German jucchen to itch

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to ITCH

Synonyms

aggravate, annoy, bother, bug, burn (up), chafe, eat, exasperate, frost, gall, get, grate, gripe, hack (off), irk, irritate, nark [British], nettle, peeve, persecute, pique, put out, rasp, rile, ruffle, spite, vex

Related Words

hassle, heckle; nag; inflame (also enflame), provoke, rouse; badger, bait, bullyrag (also ballyrag), devil, hagride, harass, harry, pester, plague, tease; anger, antagonize, enrage, incense, infuriate, madden, rankle, roil; agitate, discomfort, discompose, disquiet, distress, exercise, freak (out), fret, perturb, undo, unhinge, unsettle, upset, worry; affront, insult, miff, offend, outrage

Near Antonyms

appease, conciliate, mollify, oblige, pacify, placate, propitiate; delight, gladden, gratify, please, satisfy; assure, cheer, comfort, console, content, quiet, reassure, solace, soothe

Rhymes with ITCH

bitch, ditch, fitch, flitch, glitch, hitch, kitsch, niche, pitch, quitch, rich, snitch, stitch, such, switch, twitch, which, witch

²itch

noun

Definition of ITCH

1

a : an uneasy irritating sensation in the upper surface of the skin usually held to result from mild stimulation of pain receptors

b : a skin disorder accompanied by such a sensation; especially : a contagious eruption caused by a mite (Sarcoptes scabiei) that burrows in the skin and causes intense itching

2

a : a restless usually constant often compulsive desire <an itch to travel>

b : lust, prurience

— itch·i·ness \ˈi-chē-nəs\ noun

— itchy \ˈi-chē\ adjective

Examples of ITCH

1. I had a slight itch on my back.
2. Scratching only makes the itch worse.
3. She's always had an itch for adventure.
4. He has an itch to travel.

First Known Use of ITCH

before 12th century

Related to ITCH

Synonyms

concupiscence, eroticism, horniness, hots, desire, lech, letch, libidinousness, lust, lustfulness, lustihood, passion, salaciousness

Related Words

libido; ardor, heat, rut; erotomania, hypersexuality, lecherousness, lechery, nymphomania, satyriasis; venery

Near Antonyms

abstinence, celibacy, chastity; frigidity, frigidness

Other Insect Terms

drone, entomology, gadfly, pismire, proboscis, vespine

itch

noun \ˈich\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of ITCH

1

: an uneasy irritating sensation in the upper surface of the skin usually held to result from mild stimulation of pain receptors

2

: a skin disorder accompanied by an itch; especially : a contagious eruption caused by an itch mite of the genus Sarcoptes (S. scabiei) that burrows in the skin and causes intense itching

—itch verb

—itch·i·ness \ˈich-ē-nəs\ noun

—itchy \-ē\ adjective