chafe
[ cheyf ]
/ tʃeɪf /
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verb (used with object), chafed, chaf·ing.
verb (used without object), chafed, chaf·ing.
noun
irritation; annoyance.
heat, wear, or soreness caused by rubbing.
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Idioms about chafe
chafe at the bit, to become impatient at delay: The work was going very slowly, and he began to chafe at the bit.
Origin of chafe
1275–1325; Middle English chaufen to heat, rub, chafe <Middle French chaufer<Vulgar Latin *calfāre, variant of Latin cal(e)facere, equivalent to cale- (stem of calēre to be hot) + facere to make
OTHER WORDS FROM chafe
non·chaf·ing, adjectiveo·ver·chafe, verb, o·ver·chafed, o·ver·chaf·ing.un·chafed, adjectiveWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH chafe
chafe , chaffDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use chafe in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for chafe
chafe
/ (tʃeɪf) /
verb
to make or become sore or worn by rubbing
(tr) to warm (the hands, etc) by rubbing
to irritate or be irritated or impatienthe was chafed because he was not allowed out
(intr; often foll by on, against, etc) to cause friction; rub
chafe at the bit See champ 1 (def. 3)
noun
a soreness or irritation caused by friction
Word Origin for chafe
C14: from Old French chaufer to warm, ultimately from Latin calefacere, from calēre to be warm + facere to make
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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