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irritating

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irritating


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Irritate  \Ir"ri*tate\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Irritated};  p.  pr  & 
  vb  n.  {Irritating}.]  [L.  irritatus  p.  p.  of  irritare.  Of 
  doubtful  origin.] 
  1.  To  increase  the  action  or  violence  of  to  heighten 
  excitement  in  to  intensify;  to  stimulate. 
 
  Cold  maketh  the  spirits  vigorous  and  irritateth 
  them  --Bacon. 
 
  2.  To  excite  anger  or  displeasure  in  to  provoke;  to  tease; 
  to  exasperate;  to  annoy;  to  vex;  as  the  insolence  of  a 
  tyrant  irritates  his  subjects. 
 
  Dismiss  the  man,  nor  irritate  the  god:  Prevent  the 
  rage  of  him  who  reigns  above.  --Pope. 
 
  3.  (Physiol.)  To  produce  irritation  in  to  stimulate;  to 
  cause  to  contract.  See  {Irritation},  n.,  2. 
 
  4.  (Med.)  To  make  morbidly  excitable,  or  oversensitive;  to 
  fret;  as  the  skin  is  irritated  by  friction;  to  irritate  a 
  wound  by  a  coarse  bandage. 
 
  Syn:  To  fret;  inflame;  excite;  provoke;  tease;  vex; 
  exasperate;  anger;  incense;  enrage. 
 
  Usage:  To  {Irritate},  {Provoke},  {Exasperate}.  These  words 
  express  different  stages  of  excited  or  angry  feeling. 
  Irritate  denotes  an  excitement  of  quick  and  slightly 
  angry  feeling  which  is  only  momentary;  as  irritated 
  by  a  hasty  remark.  To  provoke  implies  the  awakening  of 
  some  open  expression  of  decided  anger;  as  a  provoking 
  insult.  Exasperate  denotes  a  provoking  of  anger  at 
  something  unendurable.  Whatever  comes  across  our 
  feelings  irritates;  whatever  excites  anger  provokes; 
  whatever  raises  anger  to  a  high  point  exasperates. 
  ``Susceptible  and  nervous  people  are  most  easily 
  irritated;  proud  people  are  quickly  provoked;  hot  and 
  fiery  people  are  soonest  exasperated.''  --Crabb. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  irritating 
  adj  1:  causing  irritation  or  annoyance;  "tapping  an  annoying  rhythm 
  on  his  glass  with  his  fork";  "aircraft  noise  is 
  particularly  bothersome  near  the  airport";  "found  it 
  galling  to  have  to  ask  permission";  "an  irritating 
  delay";  "nettlesome  paperwork";  "a  pesky  mosquito"; 
  "swarms  of  pestering  gnats";  "a  plaguey  newfangled 
  safety  catch";  "a  teasing  and  persistent  thought 
  annoyed  him";  "a  vexatious  child";  "it  is  vexing  to 
  have  to  admit  you  are  wrong"  [syn:  {annoying},  {bothersome}, 
  {galling},  {nettlesome},  {pesky},  {pestering},  {pestiferous}, 
  {plaguy},  {plaguey},  {teasing},  {vexatious},  {vexing}] 
  2:  (used  of  physical  stimuli)  serving  to  stimulate  or  excite; 
  "an  irritative  agent"  [syn:  {irritative}] 
  3:  causing  physical  discomfort;  "bites  of  black  flies  are  more 
  than  irritating;  they  can  be  very  painful"  [syn:  {painful}] 




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