chafe

American  

[cheyf] / tʃeɪf /

verb (used with object)

chafed, chafing

1. to wear or abrade by rubbing.

   He chafed his shoes on the rocks.

2. to make sore by rubbing.

   Her collar chafed her neck.

3. to irritate; annoy.

   The dripping of the faucet chafed her nerves.

   Synonyms:

   provoke, trouble, vex, exasperate

4. to warm by rubbing.

   to chafe cold hands.

5. Obsolete. to heat; make warm.

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verb (used without object)

chafed, chafing

1. to become worn or sore from rubbing.

   His neck began to chafe from the starched collar.

2. to rub; press with friction.

   The horse chafed against his stall.

3. to be irritated or annoyed.

   He chafed at their constant interruptions.

noun

1. irritation; annoyance.

2. heat, wear, or soreness caused by rubbing.

idioms

1. chafe at the bit, to become impatient at delay.

   The work was going very slowly, and he began to chafe at the bit.

chafe British  

/ tʃeɪf /

verb

1. to make or become sore or worn by rubbing

2. (tr) to warm (the hands, etc) by rubbing

3. to irritate or be irritated or impatient

   he was chafed because he was not allowed out

4. (intr; often foll by on, against, etc) to cause friction; rub

5. See champ 1

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noun

1. a soreness or irritation caused by friction

Other Word Forms

• nonchafing adjective
• overchafe verb
• unchafed adjective

Etymology

Origin of chafe

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English chaufen “to heat, rub,” from Middle French chaufer, from Vulgar Latin calfāre (unrecorded), variant of Latin cal(e)facere, from cale-, stem of calēre “to be hot” + facere “to do, make”

Example Sentences

Mr. Edwards chafed a bit at being thought of primarily as a black artist.

From The Wall Street Journal

But the sensation they were feeling—that chafing, persistent yearning for something to soothe their weary soul—was often confused with dehydration.

From Literature

Investors, though, have found various reasons to chafe at Microsoft’s story.

From MarketWatch

Also on CNN, top Democrats chafed at the idea of deploying ICE agents to do a job they aren’t trained to do.

From Salon

But he also chafed at the restricted role in his final year of college basketball.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• annoy
• fret
• fume
• incense
• irk
• irritate
• offend
• rub