Definition of "chafe" in English

noun

1. Heat excited by friction.

2. Injury or wear caused by friction.

3. (archaic, countable, uncountable) Vexation; irritation of mind; rage.

verb

1. (transitive) To excite heat in by friction; to rub in order to stimulate and make warm.

2. (transitive, figurative) To excite passion or anger in; to fret; to irritate.

3. (transitive) To fret and wear by rubbing.

   • to chafe a cable

4. (intransitive) To rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction.

5. (intransitive) To be worn by rubbing.

   • A cable chafes.

6. (intransitive, figurative) To have a feeling of vexation; to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated.