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irritate - 7 dictionary results
ir⋅ri⋅tate
[ir-i-teyt] 
verb, -tat⋅ed, -tat⋅ing.–verb (used with object)
| 1. | to excite to impatience or anger; annoy. |
| 2. | Physiology, Biology. to excite (a living system) to some characteristic action or function. |
| 3. | Pathology. to bring (a body part) to an abnormally excited or sensitive condition. |
–verb (used without object)
| 4. | to cause irritation or become irritated. |
Origin:
1525–35; < L irrītātus, ptp. of irrītāre to arouse to anger, excite, aggravate, equiv. to irritā- v. stem + -tus ptp. suffix
1525–35; < L irrītātus, ptp. of irrītāre to arouse to anger, excite, aggravate, equiv. to irritā- v. stem + -tus ptp. suffix
Related forms:
ir⋅ri⋅ta⋅tor, noun
Synonyms:
1. vex, chafe, fret, gall; nettle, ruffle, pique; incense, enrage, infuriate, inflame. Irritate, exasperate, provoke mean to annoy or stir to anger. To irritate is to excite to impatience or angry feeling, often of no great depth or duration: to irritate by refusing to explain an action. To exasperate is to irritate to a point where self-control is threatened or lost: to exasperate by continual delays and excuses. To provoke is to stir to a sudden, strong feeling of resentful anger as by unwarrantable acts or wanton annoyance: to tease and provoke an animal until it attacks.
1. vex, chafe, fret, gall; nettle, ruffle, pique; incense, enrage, infuriate, inflame. Irritate, exasperate, provoke mean to annoy or stir to anger. To irritate is to excite to impatience or angry feeling, often of no great depth or duration: to irritate by refusing to explain an action. To exasperate is to irritate to a point where self-control is threatened or lost: to exasperate by continual delays and excuses. To provoke is to stir to a sudden, strong feeling of resentful anger as by unwarrantable acts or wanton annoyance: to tease and provoke an animal until it attacks.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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|
Link To irritate
| ir·ri·tate (ĭr'ĭ-tāt') v. ir·ri·tat·ed, ir·ri·tat·ing, ir·ri·tates v. tr.
To be a cause of impatience or anger. [Latin irrītāre, irrītāt-.] ir'ri·tat'ing·ly adv., ir'ri·ta'tor n. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Irritate
Ir"ri*tate\, v. t. [See 1 st Irritant.] To render null and void. [R.] --Abp. Bramhall.Irritate
Ir"ri*tate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Irritated; p. pr. & vb. n. Irritating.] [L. irritatus, p. p. of irritare. Of doubtful origin.]1. To increase the action or violence of; to heighten excitement in; to intensify; to stimulate. Cold maketh the spirits vigorous and irritateth them. --Bacon. 2. To excite anger or displeasure in; to provoke; to tease; to exasperate; to annoy; to vex; as, the insolence of a tyrant irritates his subjects. Dismiss the man, nor irritate the god: Prevent the rage of him who reigns above. --Pope. 3. (Physiol.) To produce irritation in; to stimulate; to cause to contract. See Irritation, n., 2. 4. (Med.) To make morbidly excitable, or oversensitive; to fret; as, the skin is irritated by friction; to irritate a wound by a coarse bandage. Syn: To fret; inflame; excite; provoke; tease; vex; exasperate; anger; incense; enrage. Usage: To Irritate, Provoke, Exasperate. These words express different stages of excited or angry feeling. Irritate denotes an excitement of quick and slightly angry feeling which is only momentary; as, irritated by a hasty remark. To provoke implies the awakening of some open expression of decided anger; as, a provoking insult. Exasperate denotes a provoking of anger at something unendurable. Whatever comes across our feelings irritates; whatever excites anger provokes; whatever raises anger to a high point exasperates. "Susceptible and nervous people are most easily irritated; proud people are quickly provoked; hot and fiery people are soonest exasperated." --Crabb.Irritate
Ir"ri*tate\, a. Excited; heightened. [Obs.]
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : irritate
Spanish:
irritar, molestar,
German:
verärgern,
Japanese:
いらいらさせる
irritate
1531, from L. irritatus, from pp. stem of irritare "excite, provoke." An earlier verb form was irrite (c.1450), from O.Fr. irriter.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: ir·ri·tate
Pronunciation: 'ir-&-"tAt
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: -tat·ed; -tat·ing
transitivesenses
1 : to provoke impatience, anger, or displeasure in
2 : to cause (an organ or tissue) to be irritable : produce irritation in
3 : to produce excitation in (as a nerve) : cause (as a muscle) to contract irritate intransitive senses
: to induce irritation
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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