From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishchafechafe /tʃeɪf/ verb 1 [intransitive, transitive]RUB if a part of your body chafes or if something chafes it, it becomes sore because of something rubbing against it Wear a T-shirt under your wet suit to stop it chafing.2 [intransitive]WAIT to feel impatient or annoyedchafe at/against/under Some hunters are chafing under the new restrictions.3 [transitive] British EnglishRUB to rub part of your body to make it warm→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
chafe• My dress was too tight under the arms and had a collar that chafed.• The boots have a soft lining to prevent your toes from chafing.• Hsu Fu consumed rope like no other vessel that I had ever sailed, and the reason was obvious: chafe.• Make sure that all canes of raspberries, blackberries and other fruits are tied in securely to prevent breakage and chafing.• But he chafed a bit as a member of a commercial office team.• Mitchell looked away chafing against this infiltration, of being led by Kingsley to recognize himself, the meaninglessness of his position.• The President chafed at this baseless criticism.• I chafed her feet and tucked her nightdress close.• The handcuff chafed his left wrist.• I chafed some warmth into my soul by telling myself that our business required an understanding of the fleeting.• Mrs Reagan, however, chafed under the monologue.chafe at/against/under• He does, however, chafe at descriptions of him as a slow-growth advocate.• Yet there is no label Beatty would wear without chafing against it.• Some people have chafed at the idea that they are constantly being monitored by an electronic Big Brother.• Mrs Reagan, however, chafed under the monologue.• Many members of the alien companies of the Pioneers chafed against the restrictions of their service.• The President chafed at this baseless criticism.• Mitchell looked away chafing against this infiltration, of being led by Kingsley to recognize himself, the meaninglessness of his position.• In a town that chafed under this tyranny, every new house that went up was a vote against the Cecil interest.Origin chafe (1200-1300) Old French chaufer “to warm”, from Latin calefacere, from calere “to be warm” + facere “to make” 