— irritator , n.
/ir"i tayt'/ , v. , irritated, irritating .
v.t.
1. to excite to impatience or anger; annoy.
2. Physiol. , Biol. to excite (a living system) to some characteristic action or function.
3. Pathol. to bring (a body part) to an abnormally excited or sensitive condition.
v.i.
4. to cause irritation or become irritated.
[ 1525-35; irritatus, ptp. of irritare to arouse to anger, excite, aggravate, equiv. to irrita- v. stem + -tus ptp. suffix ]
Syn. 1. vex, chafe, fret, gall; nettle, ruffle, pique; incense, enrage, infuriate, inflame. IRRITATE, EXASPERATE, PROVOKE mean to annoy or stir to anger. To IRRITATE is to excite to impatience or angry feeling, often of no great depth or duration: to irritate by refusing to explain an action. To EXASPERATE is to irritate to a point where self-control is threatened or lost: to exasperate by continual delays and excuses. To PROVOKE is to stir to a sudden, strong feeling of resentful anger as by unwarrantable acts or wanton annoyance: to tease and provoke an animal until it attacks.