cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations; Mosquitoes buzzing in my ear really bothers me; It irritates me that she never closes the door after she leaves

[ Syn: annoy , rag , get to , bother , get at , rile , nark , nettle , gravel , vex , chafe , devil ]

excite to an abnormal condition, or chafe or inflame; Aspirin irritates my stomach'

excite to some characteristic action or condition, such as motion, contraction, or nervous impulse, by the application of a stimulus; irritate the glands of a leaf'