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chafe
[cheyf]
verb (used with object)
to wear or abrade by rubbing.
He chafed his shoes on the rocks.
to make sore by rubbing.
Her collar chafed her neck.
to irritate; annoy.
The dripping of the faucet chafed her nerves.
Synonyms: , , ,to warm by rubbing.
to chafe cold hands.
Obsolete.to heat; make warm.
verb (used without object)
to become worn or sore from rubbing.
His neck began to chafe from the starched collar.
to rub; press with friction.
The horse chafed against his stall.
to be irritated or annoyed.
He chafed at their constant interruptions.
noun
irritation; annoyance.
heat, wear, or soreness caused by rubbing.
chafe
/ ʃɪ /
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
See champ 1
noun
a soreness or irritation caused by friction
Other Word Forms
- nonchafing adjective
- overchafe verb
- unchafed adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of chafe1
Word History and Origins
Origin of chafe1
Idioms and Phrases
chafe at the bit, to become impatient at delay.
The work was going very slowly, and he began to chafe at the bit.
Example Sentences
Smith laughs about that now, but it used to chafe him.
Many California teachers are passionate about the methods they already use and have chafed at a state-mandated approach to literacy education.
“A demagogue and opportunist,” he called him, chafing, in particular, at Trump’s comparisons of himself to Reagan.
Even as the elk moved in, many ranching families were beginning to chafe at what they said was government red tape that made it hard to run their operations.
For 43 years, that vision for abolishing the education department - backed by members chafing at "big government" control over state issues - went unrealised.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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