irritate Hear it!

irritate definition

ir·ri·tate (ir′i tāt′)

transitive verb irritated -·tat′ed, irritating -·tat′·ing

  1. to excite to anger; provoke; annoy; exasperate
  2. to cause (an organ or part of the body) to be inflamed or sore
  3. Physiol. to excite (an organ, muscle, etc.) to a characteristic action or function by a stimulus

Etymology: < L irritatus, pp. of irritare, to excite, stimulate, irritate < ir-, in- + IE base *erei-, to excite, agitate > roam

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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