definition of
irritate

[1] #1 irritate v. [annoy, rag, get to, bother, get at, rile, nark, nettle, gravel, vex, chafe, devil] 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". wn

[2] #2 irritate v. excite to an abnormal condition, or chafe or inflame; "Aspirin irritates my stomach". wn

[3] #3 irritate v. 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". wn