chafe

[cheyf]

verb (used with object)

chafed, chafing 

1. to wear or abrade by rubbing.

   He chafed his shoes on the rocks.

2. to make sore by rubbing.

   Her collar chafed her neck.

3. to irritate; annoy.

   The dripping of the faucet chafed her nerves.

   Synonyms: provoke, trouble, vex, exasperate

4. to warm by rubbing.

   to chafe cold hands.

5. Obsolete.,  to heat; make warm.

verb (used without object)

chafed, chafing 

1. to become worn or sore from rubbing.

   His neck began to chafe from the starched collar.

2. to rub; press with friction.

   The horse chafed against his stall.

3. to be irritated or annoyed.

   He chafed at their constant interruptions.

noun

1. irritation; annoyance.

2. heat, wear, or soreness caused by rubbing.

chafe

/ tʃeɪf /

verb

1. to make or become sore or worn by rubbing

2. (tr) to warm (the hands, etc) by rubbing

3. to irritate or be irritated or impatient

   he was chafed because he was not allowed out

4. (intr; often foll by on, against, etc) to cause friction; rub

5. See champ 1

noun

1. a soreness or irritation caused by friction

Other Word Forms

• nonchafing adjective
• overchafe verb
• unchafed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of chafe¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English chaufen “to heat, rub,” from Middle French chaufer, from Vulgar Latin calfāre (unrecorded), variant of Latin cal(e)facere, from cale-, stem of calēre “to be hot” + facere “to do, make”

Word History and Origins

Origin of chafe¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. 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

Meanwhile, Lockjaw’s Perfidia fixation chafes against his desire to join a clique of snooty white nationalists invented for the film called the Christmas Adventurers Club.

From Los Angeles Times

Many California teachers, however, remain committed to different methods and chafe at a state-mandated approach, especially one that runs counter to their classroom experience and previous training.

From Los Angeles Times

He said he suffered extreme wetsuit chafing and that parts of his tongue fell off due to saltwater exposure.

From BBC

For years, folks in the so-called north state have chafed at life under the rule of California’s liberal politicians.

From Los Angeles Times

Smith laughs about that now, but it used to chafe him.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• annoy 
• fret 
• fume 
• incense 
• irk 
• irritate 
• offend 
• rub