Itch Meaning
/ɪt͡ʃ/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA sensation felt on an area of the skin that causes a person or animal to want to scratch said area.
nounA constant teasing desire or want.
Sentence Examples
I have an itch in my ear.
She had an itch to see her child.
CEFR Practice Quiz
After being bitten by a mosquito, the area on my arm started to ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The mosquito bite started to ____, but she tried not to scratch it to avoid making it worse.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English icche, ȝicche, from Old English ġiċċe (“itch”), from Proto-Germanic *jukjǭ (“itch”), of unknown origin. Cognate with Scots yeuk (“itch, itchiness”), Dutch jeuk (“itch”), German jucken.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"... it left, however, a bee at his ear and an itch to transfer the buzzer's attentions and tease his darling; for she had betrayed herself as right good game."
— 1895, George Meredith, The Amazing Marriage:
"Capulet: ... Speak not, reply not, do not answer me; / My fingers itch. Wife, we scarce thought us blest / That God had lent us but this only child; / But now I see this one is one too much, / And that we have a curse in having her: / Out on her, hilding!"
— c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, (please specify the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)]:
"My head is suddenly itching me like mad."
— 2001, India Knight, My Life on a Plate, page 102:
""What makes you suspect him?" Max asked as he itched his neck."
— 2002, M D Huddleston, Missing Paige:
"I have to take both shoes and socks off! If I go bare foot I'm ok! I also get itching on my r/palm of my hand. I itch it so much that it's raw!"
— 2002 January 4, Cyd, “Itching”, in alt.support.mult-sclerosis (Usenet):
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
After being bitten by a mosquito, the area on my arm started to ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The mosquito bite started to ____, but she tried not to scratch it to avoid making it worse.