Vellicate

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

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

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  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}]
       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}]