spasm
spasm definition
spasm (spaz′əm)
noun
- 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
- 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.
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