vellicate

3 definitions found

vellicate - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Vellicate \Vel"li*cate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Vellicated; p.
     pr. & vb. n. Vellicating.] [L. vellicatus, p. p. of
     vellicare to twitch, fr. vellere to pluck, pull.]
     To twitch; to cause to twitch convulsively.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           Convulsions, arising from something vellicating a nerve
           in its extremity, are not very dangerous. --Arbuthnot.
     [1913 Webster]

  Vellicate \Vel"li*cate\, v. i.
     To move spasmodically; to twitch; as, a nerve vellicates.
     [1913 Webster]

vellicate - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  vellicate
      v 1: touch (a body part) lightly so as to excite the surface
           nerves and cause uneasiness, laughter, or spasmodic
           movements [syn: tickle, titillate, vellicate]
      2: irritate as if by a nip, pinch, or tear; "smooth surfaces can
         vellicate the teeth"; "the pain is as if sharp points pinch
         your back" [syn: pinch, vellicate]