Definition

1. Verb:
   • To sting with or as with nettles, causing a stinging pain or sensation: This refers to the action of producing a stinging feeling on the skin, similar to the effect of contact with nettle plants.
   • To whip with or as with nettles: This is a more figurative or literal use meaning to lash or strike, evoking the sharp, irritating sensation of a nettle sting.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • The tiny hairs on the caterpillar can urticate the skin, causing an itchy rash.
  • He claimed the plant would urticate anyone who brushed against it.
  • The harsh criticism seemed to urticate his pride.

Advanced Usage

• Medical/Biological Context: Used to describe the defensive mechanism of certain plants or animals (like some caterpillars or jellyfish) that cause a stinging sensation.
  • The jellyfish's tentacles can urticate upon contact, releasing venom.
• Figurative Use: Can be applied metaphorically to describe something that causes sharp, irritating discomfort, often emotional or psychological.
  • Her sarcastic remarks never failed to urticate him.

Variants and Related Words

• Urtication (noun): The act or condition of being stung or causing a stinging sensation; a medical term for a nettle-like rash or the therapeutic use of stinging nettles.
  • The urtication from the plant was intense but short-lived.
• Urticant (adjective/noun): (Something) causing a stinging or itching sensation.
  • The urticant properties of the chemical required protective gloves.

Synonyms

• Sting: To cause a sharp, smarting pain.
• Irritate: To provoke impatience, anger, or discomfort.
• Prickle: To cause a slight stinging or tingling sensation.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• To cause a nettle-like rash: This is a descriptive phrase closely related to the primary meaning of "urticate."
  • Handling that plant without gloves may cause a nettle-like rash.

Verb

1. sting with or as with nettles and cause a stinging pain or sensation
2. whip with or as with nettles