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to urticate

to urticate

9.9
Make the skin sting or itch after touching nettles
  • verb
  • /ˈɜːrtɪkeɪt/
translation icon : urticar
  • The nettles urticate anyone who brushes against them.

Examples

  • He urticated his arm while gardening yesterday.

  • Some caterpillars urticate predators with their tiny venomous hairs.

  • Brushing against the plant will urticate the skin, leaving a painful rash.

  • The jellyfish's tentacles can urticate swimmers, causing an intense burning sensation.

  • Touching the plant will urticate your skin and cause a painful rash.

  • The nettles in the garden can urticate anyone who brushes against them.

  • If you accidentally urticate yourself, rinse the area with cool water.

Synonyms

to nettle
vsto urticate
2 6.8

To annoy or upset someone in a way that feels sharp

causes a real skin itch or painful prick after touching plants

Antonyms

63 3.4

To make someone feel calmer or reduce their pain

How Itchy

to irritate
17 3.4
to urticate
9.9
tickle
39 1.0

Surface Forms

urticate infinitive
urticated past
urticated past participle
urticating present participle
urticates third person singular

Morphology

urticate = urtic + ate

The root 'urtic-' is a Latin combining form related to nettles and is not a productive or recognizable English base for most learners, so the meaning cannot be derived from its parts.

Etymology

Urticate comes from the Latin urtica, which means 'nettle', the stinging plant. So to urticate is to cause a sting or itchy rash, just like what happens when you touch a nettle.