1. An irritating skin sensation causing a desire to scratch.
2. Any of various skin disorders, such as scabies, marked by intense irritation and itching.
3. A restless desire or craving for something: an itch to travel.

1. 1. To feel, have, or produce an itch.
   2. To have a desire to scratch.
2. To have a persistent, restless craving.

1. To cause to itch.
2. To scratch (an itch).

[Middle English yicche, from Old English gicce, from giccan, to itch.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.