First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1itch
verb \ˈich\
: to have or produce an unpleasant feeling on your skin or inside your mouth, nose, etc. that makes you want to scratch
: to have a strong desire to do something or for something
Full Definition of ITCH
intransitive verb
1
a : to have an itch <her arm itched> b : to produce an itchy sensation <long underwear that itches>
2
: to have a restless desire or hankering for something <were itching to go outside>
transitive verb
1
: to cause to itch
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See itch defined for kids
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Origin of ITCH
Middle English icchen, from Old English giccan; akin to Old High German jucchen to itch
Related to ITCH
2itch
noun
: an uncomfortable or unpleasant feeling on your skin or inside your mouth, nose, etc., that makes you want to scratch
: a constant and strong desire for something or to do something
Full Definition of ITCH
1
a : an uneasy irritating sensation in the upper surface of the skin usually held to result from mild stimulation of pain receptors b : a skin disorder accompanied by such a sensation; especially : a contagious eruption caused by a mite (Sarcoptes scabiei) that burrows in the skin and causes intense itching
2
— itch·i·ness \ˈi-chē-nəs\ noun
— itchy \ˈi-chē\ adjective
See itch defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of ITCH
before 12th century
Related to ITCH
- Synonyms
- concupiscence, eroticism, horniness, hots, desire, lech, letch, libidinousness, lust, lustfulness, lustihood, passion, salaciousness
ITCH Defined for Kids
1itch
verb \ˈich\
itcheditch·ing
Definition of ITCH for Kids
1
: to have or produce an unpleasant feeling that causes a desire to scratch <My nose itches.>
2
: to have a strong desire <The kids at my school are ALWAYS itching to see a fight. — Jeff Kinney, Wimpy Kid>
2itch
noun
Definition of ITCH for Kids
1
: an unpleasant feeling that causes a desire to scratch
2
: a skin disorder in which an itch is present
3
: a restless usually constant desire <an itch to travel>
Medical Dictionary
itch
noun \ˈich\
Medical Definition of ITCH
1
: an uneasy irritating sensation in the upper surface of the skin usually held to result from mild stimulation of pain receptors
2
: a skin disorder accompanied by an itch; especially : a contagious eruption caused by an itch mite of the genus Sarcoptes (S. scabiei) that burrows in the skin and causes intense itching
—itch verb
—itch·i·ness \ˈich-ē-nəs\ noun
—itchy \-ē\ adjective
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