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