Definition

1. Noun:

   • A cause or source of annoyance or irritation: A "peeve" is something that specifically and persistently bothers or irritates a person.
   • A particular and often minor annoyance: It often refers to a personal, sometimes idiosyncratic, irritation.

2. Verb:

   • To annoy or irritate: To cause someone to feel mild but persistent annoyance or resentment.

Examples

• Noun: One of my biggest peeves is people who are late for meetings. Loud chewing is a common pet peeve for many.

• Verb: It really peeves me when someone interrupts. His constant humming began to peeve his coworkers.

Advanced Usage

• "Pet peeve": This is a very common collocation where "pet" intensifies the meaning, indicating a personal, long-standing, and particularly bothersome annoyance.

Variants and Related Words

• Peeved (adjective): Feeling annoyed or irritated. She was peeved by the last-minute change to the schedule.

• Peevish (adjective): Easily irritated, especially by unimportant things; querulous. The lack of sleep made him peevish all day.

Synonyms

• Noun: Irritant, annoyance, grievance, vexation, bother.
• Verb: Irritate, annoy, vex, bother, nettle, gall.

Related Phrases

• "Get one's peeve up": To become annoyed or irritated (less common).

Noun

1. an annoyed or irritated mood

Verb

1. cause to be annoyed, irritated, or resentful