Library / English Dictionary

ITCH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

An irritating cutaneous sensation that produces a desire to scratch

Synonyms:

itch; itchiness; itching

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("itch" is a kind of...):

cutaneous sensation; haptic sensation; skin sensation (a sensation localized on the skin)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "itch"):

pruritus (an intense itching sensation that can have various causes (as by allergies or infection or lymphoma or jaundice etc.))

Derivation:

itch (scrape or rub as if to relieve itching)

itch (have or perceive an itch)

itchy (causing an irritating cutaneous sensation; being affect with an itch)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A strong restless desire

Example:

why this urge to travel?

Synonyms:

itch; urge

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Hypernyms ("itch" is a kind of...):

desire (the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state)

Derivation:

itch (have a strong desire or urge to do something)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A contagious skin infection caused by the itch mite; characterized by persistent itching and skin irritation

Example:

he has a bad case of the itch

Synonyms:

itch; scabies

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("itch" is a kind of...):

infection (the pathological state resulting from the invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganisms)

Derivation:

itch (scrape or rub as if to relieve itching)

itch (have or perceive an itch)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Have a strong desire or urge to do something

Example:

He is spoiling for a fight

Synonyms:

itch; spoil

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "itch" is one way to...):

desire; want (feel or have a desire for; want strongly)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Derivation:

itch (a strong restless desire)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Scrape or rub as if to relieve itching

Example:

Don't scratch your insect bites!

Synonyms:

itch; rub; scratch

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "itch" is one way to...):

irritate (excite to an abnormal condition, or chafe or inflame)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

itch (an irritating cutaneous sensation that produces a desire to scratch)

itch (a contagious skin infection caused by the itch mite; characterized by persistent itching and skin irritation)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Have or perceive an itch

Example:

I'm itching--the air is so dry!

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "itch" is one way to...):

ache; hurt; smart (be the source of pain)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "itch"):

tickle; titillate; vellicate (touch (a body part) lightly so as to excite the surface nerves and cause uneasiness, laughter, or spasmodic movements)

prickle; tingle (cause a stinging or tingling sensation)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something ----s somebody
Somebody ----s PP
Somebody's (body part) ----s

Derivation:

itch (an irritating cutaneous sensation that produces a desire to scratch)

itch (a contagious skin infection caused by the itch mite; characterized by persistent itching and skin irritation)

itching (an irritating cutaneous sensation that produces a desire to scratch)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Cause to perceive an itch

Example:

his skin itched

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Credits

 Context examples: 

Wit, lad, is a catching thing, like the itch or the sweating sickness.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

There may also be itching, especially when overheated.

(Pityriasis Rosea, NCI Thesaurus)

It can cause swelling, itching, burning, discharge, and redness.

(Pinkeye, NIH: National Eye Institute)

The use of free niacin is limited by its side effects of skin flushing (i.e., redness, itching, burning, and paresthesias).

(Niacin-based Antilipidemic Agent, NCI Thesaurus)

Some OTC medicines relieve aches, pains and itches.

(Over-the-Counter Medicines, Food and Drug Administration)

These histamine activities include vasodilation, bronchoconstriction, increased vascular permeability, pain, itching, and spasmodic contractions of gastrointestinal smooth muscles.

(Antazoline, NCI Thesaurus)

This prevents histamine-induced bronchoconstriction, vasodilation, increased capillary permeability, itching, and spasmodic contractions of GI smooth muscle.

(Bromodiphenhydramine, NCI Thesaurus)

Symptoms include sneezing, nasal congestion, rhinorrhea and itching.

(Allergic Rhinitis, NCI Thesaurus/CTCAE)

This drug also prevents histamine-induced pain and itching of the skin and mucous membranes.

(Acrivastine, NCI Thesaurus)

Symptoms include sneezing, nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, and itching.

(Allergic Rhinitis, NCI Thesaurus)