irritant

Noun
Synonyms: thorn

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

  1. something that causes irritation and annoyance“he's a thorn in my flesh”Synonyms: thorn
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Irritant \Ir"ri*tant\, a. [LL. irritants, -antis, p. pr. of irritare to make null, fr. L. irritus void; pref. ir- not + ratus established.] (Scots Law) Rendering null and void; conditionally invalidating. [1913 Webster]

The states elected Harry, Duke of Anjou, for their king, with this clause irritant; that, if he did violate any part of his oath, the people should owe him no allegiance. --Hayward. [1913 Webster]

Irritant \Ir"ri*tant\, a. [L. irritans, -antis, p. pr. of irritare: cf. F. irritant. See Irritate to excite.] Irritating; producing irritation or inflammation. [1913 Webster]
Irritant \Ir"ri*tant\, n. [Cf. F. irritant.] [1913 Webster]

1.That which irritates or excites. [1913 Webster]

2.(Physiol. & Med.) Any agent by which irritation is produced; as, a chemical irritant; a mechanical or electrical irritant. [1913 Webster]

3.(Toxicology) A poison that produces inflammation. [1913 Webster]

Counter irritant. See under Counter.

Pure irritant (Toxicology), a poison that produces inflammation without any corrosive action upon the tissues. [1913 Webster]

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