VELLICATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does vellicate mean? 

• VELLICATE (verb)
  The verb VELLICATE has 2 senses:

1. touch (a body part) lightly so as to excite the surface nerves and cause uneasiness, laughter, or spasmodic movements

2. irritate as if by a nip, pinch, or tear

  Familiarity information: VELLICATE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• VELLICATE (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Touch (a body part) lightly so as to excite the surface nerves and cause uneasiness, laughter, or spasmodic movements

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

tickle; titillate; vellicate

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

itch (have or perceive an itch)

Sentence frames:

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

Derivation:

vellication (a sudden muscle spasm; especially one caused by a nervous condition)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Irritate as if by a nip, pinch, or tear

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

pinch; vellicate

Context example:

the pain is as if sharp points pinch your back

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

irritate (excite to some characteristic action or condition, such as motion, contraction, or nervous impulse, by the application of a stimulus)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something ----s something