Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Irritation

Irˊri-ta′tion

,
Noun.
[L.
irritatio
: cf. F.
irritation
.]
1.
The act of irritating, or exciting, or the state of being irritated; excitement; stimulation, usually of an undue and uncomfortable kind; especially, excitement of anger or passion; provocation; annoyance; anger.
The whole body of the arts and sciences composes one vast machinery for the
irritation
and development of the human intellect.
De Quincey.
2.
(Physiol.)
The act of exciting, or the condition of being excited to action, by stimulation; – as, the condition of an organ of sense, when its nerve is affected by some external body; esp., the act of exciting muscle fibers to contraction, by artificial stimulation;
as, the
irritation
of a motor nerve by electricity
; also, the condition of a muscle and nerve, under such stimulation.
3.
(Med.)
A condition of morbid excitability or oversensitiveness of an organ or part of the body; a state in which the application of ordinary stimuli produces pain or excessive or vitiated action.

Webster 1828 Edition


Irritation

IRRITA'TION

,
Noun.
The operation of exciting heat, action, and redness in the skin or flesh of living animals, by friction or other means.
1.
The excitement of action in the animal system by the application of food, medicines and the like.
2.
Excitement of anger or passion; provocation; exasperation; anger.
3.
In physiology, an exertion or change of some extreme part of the sensorium residing in the muscles or organs of sense, in consequence of the appulses of external bodies.
Irritation is the effect of a stimulus applied to an irritable part.

Definition 2024


irritation

irritation

English

Noun

irritation (plural irritations)

  1. The act of irritating or annoying
    What irritation cause you to be so moody?
  2. The state of being irritated
    • 2012 March-April, Anna Lena Phillips, “Sneaky Silk Moths”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, page 172:
      Last spring, the periodical cicadas emerged across eastern North America. Their vast numbers and short above-ground life spans inspired awe and irritation in humans—and made for good meals for birds and small mammals.
  3. The act of exciting, or the condition of being excited to action, by stimulation; -- as, the condition of an organ of sense, when its nerve is affected by some external body; especially, the act of exciting muscle fibers to contraction, by artificial stimulation; as, the irritation of a motor nerve by electricity; also, the condition of a muscle and nerve, under such stimulation.
  4. A condition of morbid excitability or oversensitiveness of an organ or part of the body; a state in which the application of ordinary stimuli produces pain or excessive or vitiated action.

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

External links

  • irritation in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • irritation in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911


French

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /i.ʁi.tas.jɔ̃/
  • Rhymes: -ɔ̃
  • Homophone: irritations

Noun

irritation f (plural irritations)

  1. Irritation (all senses).