itch

UK: /ˈɪtʃ/ US: /ɪtʃ/ ,(ich)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

itch /ɪtʃ/   v. 

1. Physiology to have or feel a tingling irritation of the skin that causes a desire to scratch the part affected:
   [no object] My skin itches.
2. to cause such a feeling: [no object]
   This shirt itches.
   [~ + object]
   This shirt itches me.
3. [Informal.] to scratch a part that itches: [~ + object]
   Even though the poison ivy is driving you mad, don't itch it!
   [no object]
   Don't itch; just try to think of something else.
4. to have a desire to do or get something: [no object]
   to itch after fame.
   [~ + to + verb]
   He was itching to get back to his home town.

n. [countable]

5. the sensation of itching:
   a bad itch.
6. a restless desire or longing:
   an itch for excitement.

itch•y, adj., -i•er, -i•est. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

itch  (ich), v.i. 

1. Physiology to have or feel a peculiar tingling or uneasy irritation of the skin that causes a desire to scratch the part affected:
   My nose itches.
2. to cause such a feeling:
   This shirt itches.
3. [Informal.] to scratch a part that itches.
4. to have a desire to do or get something:
   to itch after fame.

v.t. 

5. to cause to have an itch:
   His wool shirt always itches him.
6. [Informal.] to scratch (a part that itches):
   to itch a mosquito bite.
7. to annoy;
   vex;
   irritate:
   Her remarks itched me.

n. 

8. the sensation of itching.
9. an uneasy or restless desire or longing:
   an itch for excitement.
10. Pathology a contagious disease caused by the itch mite, which burrows into the skin (usually prec. by the). Cf. mange, scabies.

• bef. 900; (verb, verbal) Middle English (y)icchen, Old English gicc(e)an; akin to German jucken, Dutch jeuken; (noun, nominal) Middle English (y)icche, Old English gicce, derivative of the verb, verbal

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

itch / ɪtʃ/ noun

1. an irritation or tickling sensation of the skin causing a desire to scratch
2. a restless desire
3. any skin disorder, such as scabies, characterized by intense itching

verb

1. (intransitive) to feel or produce an irritating or tickling sensation
2. (intransitive) to have a restless desire (to do something)
3. to scratch (the skin)
4. itching palm ⇒ a grasping nature; avarice
5. have itchy feet ⇒ to be restless; have a desire to travel

Etymology: Old English gīccean to itch, of Germanic origin

ˈitchy adjective

ˈitchiness, ˈitching noun