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spasm definition

spasm (spaz′əm)

noun

  1. a sudden, convulsive, involuntary muscular contraction: a tonic spasm is persistent and sustained, and a clonic spasm is one of a series of relatively brief contractions alternating with relaxations
  2. any sudden, violent, temporary activity, feeling, etc.

Etymology: ME spasme < MFr < L spasmus < Gr spasmos < span, to draw, pull, wrench: see span

intransitive verb

to undergo a spasm

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

medical spasm definition - medical

spasm Synonyms

spasm

n.

convulsion, seizure, contraction; see fit 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

spasm Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • artery: Less common causes include spasms of the coronary arteries or disease of the smaller branches of these arteries.

Converse of object

  • relieve: It works quickly at relieving spasms, often quicker than conventional pain relief.

Preposition: in

  • muscle: Assessment There was spasm in the suspensory muscles of the larynx.

Adjective modifier

  • infantile: Early treatment of infantile spasm might preserve cognitive functioning in some children.

Noun used with modifier

  • muscle: Muscle spasm in the thoracic region can cause referred pain to radiate into the chest or abdomen.
spasm usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

spasm quotes

If you carry this resolution, you will send a Foreign Secretaryöwhoever he may beönaked into the conference chamber.You call that statesmanship. I call it an emotional spasm.

-Bevan, Aneurin

spasm quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"spasm." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/spasm>

APA Style

spasm. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/spasm

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