Search Result for "vellicate": 
Wordnet 3.0

VERB (2)

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

2. irritate as if by a nip, pinch, or tear;
- Example: "smooth surfaces can vellicate the teeth"
- Example: "the pain is as if sharp points pinch your back"
[syn: pinch, vellicate]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Vellicate \Vel"li*cate\, v. i. To move spasmodically; to twitch; as, a nerve vellicates. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Vellicate \Vel"li*cate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Vellicated; p. pr. & vb. n. Vellicating.] [L. vellicatus, p. p. of vellicare to twitch, fr. vellere to pluck, pull.] To twitch; to cause to twitch convulsively. [1913 Webster] Convulsions, arising from something vellicating a nerve in its extremity, are not very dangerous. --Arbuthnot. [1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

vellicate v 1: touch (a body part) lightly so as to excite the surface nerves and cause uneasiness, laughter, or spasmodic movements [syn: tickle, titillate, vellicate] 2: irritate as if by a nip, pinch, or tear; "smooth surfaces can vellicate the teeth"; "the pain is as if sharp points pinch your back" [syn: pinch, vellicate]