spasm
Americannoun
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Pathology. a sudden, abnormal, involuntary muscular contraction, consisting of a continued muscular contraction tonic spasm or of a series of alternating muscular contractions and relaxations clonic spasm.
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any sudden, brief spell of great energy, activity, feeling, etc.
verb (used without object)
noun
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an involuntary muscular contraction, esp one resulting in cramp or convulsion
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a sudden burst of activity, emotion, etc
Etymology
Origin of spasm
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English spasme, spasom, from Old French (e)spasme and Latin spasmus, from Greek spasmós “convulsion,” derivative of spân “to draw (a sword), pull out, tear out, suck in, slurp down”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Salt missed Tuesday's third T20 against Sri Lanka with a back spasm but trained successfully on Friday and will take his place at the top of the order.
From Barron's
Tiamat, half in the circle and half out, was shaking with terrible spasms.
From Literature
Oh, to be alive! was all he could think as he trod water, inhaling and coughing in spasms.
From Literature
But if more severe symptoms, such as spasms, are experienced, surgery may be required.
From BBC
These included muscle spasms, memory loss, hallucinations and balance issues.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
