ITCH

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does itch mean? 

• ITCH (noun)
  The noun ITCH has 3 senses:

1. a contagious skin infection caused by the itch mite; characterized by persistent itching and skin irritation

2. a strong restless desire

3. an irritating cutaneous sensation that produces a desire to scratch

  Familiarity information: ITCH used as a noun is uncommon.

• ITCH (verb)
  The verb ITCH has 4 senses:

1. scrape or rub as if to relieve itching

2. have or perceive an itch

3. cause to perceive an itch

4. have a strong desire or urge to do something

  Familiarity information: ITCH used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ITCH (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A contagious skin infection caused by the itch mite; characterized by persistent itching and skin irritation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

itch; scabies

Context example:

he has a bad case of the itch

Hypernyms ("itch" is a kind of...):

infection (the pathological state resulting from the invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganisms)

Derivation:

itch (scrape or rub as if to relieve itching)

itch (have or perceive an itch)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A strong restless desire

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Synonyms:

itch; urge

Context example:

why this urge to travel?

Hypernyms ("itch" is a kind of...):

desire (the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state)

Derivation:

itch (have a strong desire or urge to do something)

Sense 3

Meaning:

An irritating cutaneous sensation that produces a desire to scratch

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

itch; itchiness; itching

Hypernyms ("itch" is a kind of...):

cutaneous sensation; haptic sensation; skin sensation (a sensation localized on the skin)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "itch"):

pruritus (an intense itching sensation that can have various causes (as by allergies or infection or lymphoma or jaundice etc.))

Derivation:

itch (scrape or rub as if to relieve itching)

itch (have or perceive an itch)

itchy (causing an irritating cutaneous sensation; being affect with an itch)

• ITCH (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they itch    ... he / she / it itches   
Past simple: itched   
Past participle: itched   
-ing form: itching   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Scrape or rub as if to relieve itching

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

itch; rub; scratch

Context example:

Don't scratch your insect bites!

Hypernyms (to "itch" is one way to...):

irritate (excite to an abnormal condition, or chafe or inflame)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

itch (an irritating cutaneous sensation that produces a desire to scratch)

itch (a contagious skin infection caused by the itch mite; characterized by persistent itching and skin irritation)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Have or perceive an itch

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Context example:

I'm itching--the air is so dry!

Hypernyms (to "itch" is one way to...):

ache; hurt; smart (be the source of pain)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "itch"):

tickle; titillate; vellicate (touch (a body part) lightly so as to excite the surface nerves and cause uneasiness, laughter, or spasmodic movements)

prickle; tingle (cause a stinging or tingling sensation)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something ----s somebody
Somebody ----s PP
Somebody's (body part) ----s

Derivation:

itch (an irritating cutaneous sensation that produces a desire to scratch)

itch (a contagious skin infection caused by the itch mite; characterized by persistent itching and skin irritation)

itching (an irritating cutaneous sensation that produces a desire to scratch)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Cause to perceive an itch

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Context example:

his skin itched

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 4

Meaning:

Have a strong desire or urge to do something

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

itch; spoil

Context example:

He is spoiling for a fight

Hypernyms (to "itch" is one way to...):

desire; want (feel or have a desire for; want strongly)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Derivation:

itch (a strong restless desire)

 Context examples 

It may help stop bleeding, form new blood vessels, keep the skin moist, and relieve pain and itching.

(Collagen/Aloe Vera/Vitamin E/Lidocaine Topical Hydrogel, NCI Dictionary)

A drug that is used to treat asthma, allergies, and colds, and to relieve itching caused by certain skin disorders.

(Cyproheptadine, NCI Dictionary)

It is used to relieve itching and to treat problems in the upper respiratory tract.

(Menthol, NCI Dictionary)

Carbinoxamine diminishes the typical histaminergic effects on H1-receptors in bronchial smooth muscle, capillaries, and gastrointestinal smooth muscle, including vasodilation, bronchoconstriction, increased vascular permeability, pain, itching, and spasmodic contractions of gastrointestinal smooth muscle.

(Carbinoxamine Maleate, NCI Thesaurus)

This drug also prevents histamine-induced pain and itching of mucous membranes.

(Bromodiphenhydramine Hydrochloride, NCI Thesaurus)

A type of drug that blocks the action of histamines, which can cause fever, itching, sneezing, a runny nose, and watery eyes.

(Antihistamine, NCI Dictionary)

You may have no reaction to the bites, or you may have small marks or itching.

(Bedbugs, Environmental Protection Agency)

The active ingredient in a drug used to relieve certain side effects caused by treatment with opiods (pain killers similar to morphine), such as constipation (hard, dry stools), itching, and low urine flow.

(Methylnaltrexone, NCI Dictionary)

A drug used to relieve certain side effects caused by treatment with opiods (pain killers similar to morphine), such as constipation (hard, dry stools), itching, and low urine flow.

(Methylnaltrexone bromide, NCI Dictionary)

The doctor looked it all over, as if his fingers were itching to open it; but instead of doing that, he put it quietly in the pocket of his coat.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)