titillate

[ tit-l-eyt ]
/ ˈtɪt lˌeɪt /

verb (used with object), tit·il·lat·ed, tit·il·lat·ing.

to excite or arouse agreeably: to titillate the fancy.
to tickle; excite a tingling or itching sensation in, as by touching or stroking lightly.

Origin of titillate

1610–20; < Latin tītillātus, past participle of tītillāre to tickle; see -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM titillate

tit·il·la·tion, noun tit·il·la·tive, adjective un·tit·il·lat·ed, adjective un·tit·il·lat·ing, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH titillate

tantalizing titillating titillate titivate

Example sentences from the Web for titillation

British Dictionary definitions for titillation

titillate
/ (ˈtɪtɪˌleɪt) /

verb (tr)

to arouse, tease, interest, or excite pleasurably and often superficially
to cause a tickling or tingling sensation in, esp by touching

Derived forms of titillate

titillating, adjective titillatingly, adverb titillation, noun titillative, adjective

Word Origin for titillate

C17: from Latin tītillāre