itch

 
Pronunciation: /ɪtʃ/

noun

[usually in singular]
  • an uncomfortable sensation on the skin that causes a desire to scratch.
  • [mass noun, usually with modifier] a skin disease or condition of which itching is a symptom.
  • informal a restless or strong desire to do something: an itch to write fiction

verb

[no object]
  • be the site of or cause an itch: the bite itched like crazy
  • (of a person) experience an itch: I itched all over
  • informal feel a restless or strong desire to do something: [with infinitive]: Paul was itching to get outside

Phrases

an itching palm

an avaricious nature.

Origin:

Old English gycce (noun), gyccan (verb), of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch jeuk (noun) and Dutch jeuken, German jucken (verb)