chafing

Variant of chafe

transitive verb chafed, chafing

  1. to rub so as to stimulate or make warm
  2. to wear away by rubbing
  3. to irritate or make sore by rubbing
  4. to annoy; irritate

Origin: ME chaufen < OFr chaufer, to warm < L calefacere, to make warm: see calefacient

intransitive verb

  1. to rub (on or against)
  2. to be or become vexed, irritated, or impatient

noun

  1. an injury or irritation caused by rubbing
  2. Archaic a vexed or annoyed state
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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