itch

verb (used without object)

to have or feel a peculiar tingling or uneasy irritation of the skin that causes a desire to scratch the part affected: My nose itches.

to cause such a feeling: This shirt itches.

Informal. to scratch a part that itches.

to have a desire to do or get something: to itch after fame.

verb (used with object)

to cause to have an itch: His wool shirt always itches him.

Informal. to scratch (a part that itches): to itch a mosquito bite.

to annoy; vex; irritate: Her remarks itched me.

00:10

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to introduce subtleties into or argue subtly about.

chat, to converse

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noun

the sensation of itching.

an uneasy or restless desire or longing: an itch for excitement.

10.

a contagious disease caused by the itch mite, which burrows into the skin (usually preceded by the ).

Compare mange, scabies.

Origin:
before 900; (v.) Middle English (y)icchen, Old English gicc(e)an; akin to German jucken, Dutch jeuken; (noun) Middle English (y)icche, Old English gicce, derivative of the v.

Related forms

an·ti-itch, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Collins

World English Dictionary

itch (ɪtʃ)

—n
1.	an irritation or tickling sensation of the skin causing a desire to scratch
2.	a restless desire
3.	any skin disorder, such as scabies, characterized by intense itching

—vb
4.	(intr) to feel or produce an irritating or tickling sensation
5.	(intr) to have a restless desire (to do something)
6.	not standard to scratch (the skin)
7.	itching palm a grasping nature; avarice
8.	have itchy feet to be restless; have a desire to travel

[Old English gīccean to itch, of Germanic origin]

'itchy

—*adj*

'itchiness

—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

itch

O.E. gicce, from giccan (v.) "to itch," from W.Gmc. *jukkjan (cf. M.Du. jöken, O.H.G. jucchen, Ger. jucken). Sense of "restless desire" is first attested 1530s; itching in this sense is from mid-14c.

American Heritage

Medical Dictionary

itch (ĭch)
n.

An irritating skin sensation causing a desire to scratch.
Any of various skin disorders, such as scabies, marked by intense irritation and itching.

v. itched, itch·ing, itch·es
To feel, have, or produce an itch.

Matching Quote

"The whole LSD, STP, marijuana, heroin, hashish, prescription cough medicine crowd suffers from the "Watchtower" itch: you gotta be with us, man, or you're out, you're dead. This pitch is a continual and seeming MUST with those who use the stuff. It's no wonder they keep getting busted."

-Charles Bukowski

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cuniculus grain itch mite ground itch hunger jock itch mange

Slang

have an itch for sth

seven-year itch