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, adjectiveWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH chafe
chafe chaffWords nearby chafe
chaeto-,
chaetognath,
chaetophorous,
chaetopod,
chaetotaxy,
chafe,
chafer,
chafeweed,
chaff,
chaffer,
chaffinch
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.