vellicate

English

Verb

vellicate (third-person singular simple present vellicates, present participle vellicating, simple past and past participle vellicated)

1. to touch (a body part) lightly so as to excite the surface nerves and cause uneasiness, laughter, or spasmodic movements

   It was nothing much - just a tiny vellicating muscle in the corner of the left eye, [...]

2. to irritate as if by a nip, pinch, or tear

   Smooth surfaces can vellicate the teeth

3. to pinch
4. make to twitch

Translations

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

• German: reizen (de), erregen (de)

Related terms

vellication vellicative

See also

• tickle
• titillate

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Latin

Verb

vellicāte

1. second-person plural present active imperative of vellicō