irritate

Universal Words verb [VN] 1 to annoy sb, especially by sth you continuously do or by sth that continuously happens: The way she puts on that accent really irritates me. 2 to make your skin or a part of your body sore or painful: Some painkilling drugs can irritate the lining of the stomach. irritating adjective: I found her extremely irritating * an irritating habit * an irritating cough / rash irritatingly adverb irritation noun [U,C]: He noted, with some irritation, that the letter had not been sent. * a skin irritation