vellicate Meaning, Definition & Usage

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

WordNet

Vel"li*cate transitive verb
Etymology
L. vellicatus, p. p. of vellicare to twitch, fr. vellere to pluck, pull.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Vellicated ; present participle & verbal noun Vellicating
Definitions
  1. To twitch; to cause to twitch convulsively.
    Convulsions, arising from something vellicating a nerve in its extremity, are not very dangerous. Arbuthnot.
Vel"li*cate intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To move spasmodically; to twitch; as, a nerve vellicates.

Webster 1913