Beginning to irritate (7)
I believe the answer is:
scratch
This could be a double definition.
'beginning' is the first definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to natural events as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I can't see?
'irritate' is the second definition.
(I know that scratch is a more specific form of irritate)
'to' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for scratch that I've seen before include "slight injury" , "Rough and ready" , "Abraded skin areas" , "claw" , "Receiving no allowance < , ready" .)