English Explanatory Dictionary

chafe

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Heat excited by friction.
  2. Injury or wear caused by friction.
  3. Vexation; irritation of mind; rage.
verb
  1. To excite heat in by friction; to rub in order to stimulate and make warm.
  2. To excite passion or anger in; to fret; to irritate.
  3. To fret and wear by rubbing.
  4. To rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction.
  5. To be worn by rubbing.
  6. To have a feeling of vexation; to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated.

Pronunciation

/t͡ʃeɪf/ en-us-chafe.ogg

Word forms

chafe chafes chafing chafed

Etymology

From Middle English chaufen (“to warm”), borrowed from Old French chaufer (modern French chauffer), from Latin calefacere, calfacere (“to make warm”), from calere (“to be warm”) + facere (“to make”). See caldron.

Derived words

chafen antichafe chafage chafe at the bit chafer chafesome chafeweed chafing dish chafing gear
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