chafe

[ cheyf ]
/ tʃeɪf /

verb (used with object), chafed, chaf·ing.

verb (used without object), chafed, chaf·ing.

noun

irritation; annoyance.
heat, wear, or soreness caused by rubbing.

Idioms for chafe

    chafe at the bit, to become impatient at delay: The work was going very slowly, and he began to chafe at the bit.

Origin of chafe

1275–1325; Middle English chaufen to heat, rub, chafe < Middle French chaufer < Vulgar Latin *calfāre, variant of Latin cal(e)facere, equivalent to cale- (stem of calēre to be hot) + facere to make

OTHER WORDS FROM chafe

non·chaf·ing, adjective o·ver·chafe, verb, o·ver·chafed, o·ver·chaf·ing. un·chafed, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH chafe

chafe chaff

Example sentences from the Web for chafing

British Dictionary definitions for chafing

chafe
/ (tʃeɪf) /

verb

to make or become sore or worn by rubbing
(tr) to warm (the hands, etc) by rubbing
to irritate or be irritated or impatient he was chafed because he was not allowed out
(intr; often foll by on, against, etc) to cause friction; rub
chafe at the bit See champ 1 (def. 3)

noun

a soreness or irritation caused by friction

Word Origin for chafe

C14: from Old French chaufer to warm, ultimately from Latin calefacere, from calēre to be warm + facere to make

Medical definitions for chafing

chafe
[ chāf ]

v.

To cause irritation of the skin by friction.