Chafe
/tʃeɪf/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo irritate or make sore by rubbing.
/tʃeɪf/
To make (skin) sore by rubbing.
The rough fabric chafed my neck.
💡 Simply: Chafe means to rub against something until your skin gets sore, like when your socks rub against your toes and make them hurt.
👶 For kids: When something rubs your skin and makes it sore.
More Examples
The saddle chafed the horse's back.
How It's Used
"The new shoes chafed my heels."
To feel annoyed or impatient.
/tʃeɪf/
To feel annoyance or irritation.
He chafed at the delay.
💡 Simply: To chafe means to feel annoyed or frustrated, like when you have to wait in a long line and it makes you mad.
👶 For kids: To feel grumpy or annoyed.
More Examples
The rules chafed her spirit.
How It's Used
"She chafed under the restrictions."
From Old French chaufer (to heat), from Latin calefacere (to make warm). The modern meaning developed from the sense of 'to make sore by rubbing'.
Historically, the word was primarily used in its literal sense of rubbing, before evolving to encompass emotional irritation.
Memory tip
Imagine your skin CHAFING (rubbing) against something rough.
Word Origin
"to make warm"