Definition: irritate as if by a nip, pinch, or tear
Usage: smooth surfaces can vellicate the teeth; the pain is as if sharp points pinch your back
Similar words: irritate
Definition: excite to some characteristic action or condition, such as motion, contraction, or nervous impulse, by the application of a stimulus
Usage: irritate the glands of a leaf
Synonyms: vellicate, titillate, tickle
Definition: touch (a body part) lightly so as to excite the surface nerves and cause uneasiness, laughter, or spasmodic movements