/ ˈɪrɪteɪt; NAmE / 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 drugs can irritate the lining of the stomach.
► ir·ri·tat·ing adjective :
I found her extremely irritating
an irritating habit
an irritating cough / rash
► ir·ri·tat·ing·ly adverb
► ir·ri·ta·tion / ˌɪrɪˈteɪʃn; NAmE / noun [ U , C ]:
He noted, with some irritation, that the letter had not been sent.
a skin irritation
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent. (in the sense excite, provoke ): from Latin irritat- irritated, from the verb irritare .