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

Philip, who is earnest and honest to a fault, chafes at the lie but soon realizes that he’s helping someone to live their authentic life, so he throws himself into it.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Saudi Arabia still chafes at the limits to its influence with the White House.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

When the authoritarian leader starts to display physical impairment, the people who have been chafing under his iron fist stop fearing him.

Read more on Salon

Even back then, however, Norman chafed at how golf was run.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They might chafe at the regulatory sovereignty of American regulators, especially as other jurisdictions are attempting to establish themselves as crypto centers.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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