chafe
Americanverb (used with object)
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to wear or abrade by rubbing.
He chafed his shoes on the rocks.
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to make sore by rubbing.
Her collar chafed her neck.
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to irritate; annoy.
The dripping of the faucet chafed her nerves.
- Synonyms:
- provoke, trouble, vex, exasperate
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to warm by rubbing.
to chafe cold hands.
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Obsolete. to heat; make warm.
verb (used without object)
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to become worn or sore from rubbing.
His neck began to chafe from the starched collar.
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to rub; press with friction.
The horse chafed against his stall.
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to be irritated or annoyed.
He chafed at their constant interruptions.
noun
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irritation; annoyance.
-
heat, wear, or soreness caused by rubbing.
idioms
verb
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to make or become sore or worn by rubbing
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(tr) to warm (the hands, etc) by rubbing
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to irritate or be irritated or impatient
he was chafed because he was not allowed out
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(intr; often foll by on, against, etc) to cause friction; rub
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See champ 1
noun
Other Word Forms
- nonchafing adjective
- overchafe verb
- unchafed adjective
Etymology
Origin of chafe
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”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Beneath his collar his neck began to chafe, and he wiggled a finger beneath his tie.
From Literature
I throw myself toward him, struggling against Peter’s grip, though his hands chafe.
From Literature
Did he chafe at the amount of time, space, and effort she devoted to her study?
From Literature
As long as Strauss remained a minority voice on the Atomic Energy Commission, however, he could only chafe powerlessly at Oppenheimer’s exalted role as the AEC’s leading scientific advisor.
From Literature
Their last night of thirst and bland journey food and aching buttocks and saddle chafe and dry bathing and grit in every crease of cloth and flesh.
From Literature
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.
