1. (v. t.) To fret or sting; also a plant of the genus Urtica, covered with minute sharp hairs\; to irritate or vex; to cause to experience sensations of displeasure or uneasiness not amounting to violent anger.

2. (n.) A plant of the genus Urtica, covered with minute sharp hairs containing a poison that produces a stinging sensation. Urtica gracitis is common in the Northern, and U. chamaedryoides in the Southern, United States. the common European species, U. urens and U. dioica, are also found in the Eastern united States. U. pilulifera is the Roman nettle of England.

aggravate agitate annoy arouse badger bait be at bedevil beset blow the coals bother bramble brier bristle brown off bug bullyrag burn up burr cactus catchweed chafe chivy cleavers devil discompose distemper disturb dog embitter exasperate excite exercise fan fan the flame fash feed the fire ferment fire foment fret get goose grass gripe harass harry heat heat up heckle hector hound huff impassion incense incite inflame instigate irk irritate miff molest nag needle nudzh peeve persecute perturb pester pick on pine needle pique plague plaque pluck the beard pother prickle provoke put out put up to quill rally rankle ride rile roil ruffle set on set up sic on spicule spiculum spike spikelet spine sticker stir the blood stir the embers stir up tease thistle thorn tickle torment try the patience tweak the nose upset vex whet whip up work up worry yucca