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chafe
[ cheyf ]
verb (used with object)
- to wear or abrade by rubbing:
He chafed his shoes on the rocks.
- to make sore by rubbing:
Her collar chafed her neck.
- to irritate; annoy:
The dripping of the faucet chafed her nerves.
Synonyms: provoke, trouble, vex, exasperate
- to warm by rubbing:
to chafe cold hands.
- Obsolete. to heat; make warm.
verb (used without object)
- to become worn or sore from rubbing:
His neck began to chafe from the starched collar.
- to rub; press with friction:
The horse chafed against his stall.
- to be irritated or annoyed:
He chafed at their constant interruptions.
noun
- irritation; annoyance.
- heat, wear, or soreness caused by rubbing.
chafe
/ tʃeɪf /
verb
- to make or become sore or worn by rubbing
- tr to warm (the hands, etc) by rubbing
- to irritate or be irritated or impatient
he was chafed because he was not allowed out
- intr; often foll by on, against, etc to cause friction; rub
- chafe at the bitSee champ 1
noun
- a soreness or irritation caused by friction
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Other Words From
- non·chafing adjective
- over·chafe verb overchafed overchafing
- un·chafed adjective
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Word History and Origins
Origin of chafe1
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Word History and Origins
Origin of chafe1
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Idioms and Phrases
- chafe at the bit, to become impatient at delay:
The work was going very slowly, and he began to chafe at the bit.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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