ITCH • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Itch

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/ɪtʃ/ Listen

noun

Itch n.

1.

(Med.) An eruption of small, isolated, acuminated vesicles, produced by the entrance of a parasitic mite (the Sarcoptes scabei), and attended with itching. It is transmissible by contact.

2.

Any itching eruption.

3.

A sensation in the skin occasioned (or resembling that occasioned) by the itch eruption; called also scabies, psora, etc.

4.

A constant irritating desire. "An itch of being thought a divine king."

Baker's itch. See under Baker.

Barber's itch, sycosis.

Bricklayer's itch, an eczema of the hands attended with much itching, occurring among bricklayers.

Grocer's itch, an itching eruption, being a variety of eczema, produced by the sugar mite (Tyrogluphus sacchari).

Itch insect (Zool.), a small parasitic mite (Sarcoptes scabei) which burrows and breeds beneath the human skin, thus causing the disease known as the itch.

Itch mite. (Zool.) Same as Itch insect, above. Also, other similar mites affecting the lower animals, as the horse and ox.

Sugar baker's itch, a variety of eczema, due to the action of sugar upon the skin.

Washerwoman's itch, eczema of the hands and arms, occurring among washerwomen.

verb

Itch v. i. (past & past part. itched; pres. part. itching)

1.

To have an uneasy sensation in the skin, which inclines the person to scratch the part affected. "My mouth hath itched all this long day."

2.

To have a constant desire or teasing uneasiness; to long for; as, itching ears. "An itching palm."

See images of 'Itch'

Etymology of 'Itch'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Itch" Quotes from Famous Books

... not say it in that fashion;—that's easy. You must say it at some moment when the itch of play is on you; when there shall be no one by to hear: when the resolution if held, shall have some meaning in it. Then say, 'there's that money which I had from old Grey. I am bound to pay it. But ...

— Mr. Scarborough's Family • Anthony Trollope

... went, was in delirium. She seemed to lie upon a bed. She lay, in fact, upon the altar of her gods, of self, of what is vain, of liberty undisciplined, of restless itch for pleasure, and of the gods of Rosalie, a piteous sacrifice to them. You that have tears to shed prepare to shed them now. Or if you have no tears, but for emotion only sneers, do stop and put the thing away. It is intolerable to think to ...

— This Freedom • A. S. M. Hutchinson

... an expensive talking machine, the slurring notes of a jazz orchestra greeted their ears as plainly as though it were coming from a neighboring room instead of a broadcasting station many miles away. Amy confessed that it made her feet itch. She loved to dance. ...

— The Campfire Girls of Roselawn - A Strange Message from the Air • Margaret Penrose

... to loiter. While there he exposed himself to the sculptor's art; but it didn't take very hard. However, Virgie came back and acquired the studio habit. And you can't live for long in a studio, you know, without getting the itch to see yourself in print. That's what brought Virgie to me. And now! Well, now I have to ...

— On With Torchy • Sewell Ford

... speaking, I mean. If our race muffs this chance, we may never get another. But you and I wouldn't care about that, not really, unless it was personally important too. Would we? Why did you accept this thankless job, commanding a colonial fleet? It can't be an itch to explore. Rustum's already been visited once, and you'll have precious little time to carry on any further studies. You could have been off to some star where men have never traveled at all. Do you see, captain? You're not a bit more cold-blooded about ...

— The Burning Bridge • Poul William Anderson

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