spasm
/ˈspæzəm/ (bre, ipa) · [spˈæzəm] /ˈspæzəm/ (ame, ipa) · [spˈæzəm] /ˈspa-zəm How to pronounce spasm (audio)/ (ame, mw) · /ˈspæz.əm/ (bre, ipa) · [spˈæzəm] /ˈspæz.əm/ (ame, ipa)
spasm — noun
1. a brief painful episode when a muscle or inner body passage suddenly tightens or
a brief painful episode when a muscle or inner body passage suddenly tightens or jerks by itself.
Gabriela grabbed the rail when a back spasm hit halfway up the stairs.
common frame: back spasm
During the night, Henry woke with a calf spasm after the long hike.
calf spasm after exercise
The doctor said the throat spasm should ease once the medicine starts working.
A brief spasm twisted Christopher's hand beside the sink.
- cramp
often stresses pain and is especially common for a leg, foot, or stomach muscle
- twitch
smaller and more visible, often in one small body part
- convulsion
much stronger and more serious, often affecting large parts of the body
文法句型
have a spasm
a spasm in + body part
go into spasm
用法筆記
Usually refers to one muscle or an inner passage such as the throat, back, or leg. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is a physical body reaction, not a brief emotional or activity burst.
常見錯誤
2. a short burst of feeling, activity, or bodily sensation that comes suddenly and
a short burst of feeling, activity, or bodily sensation that comes suddenly and quickly passes.
Walid felt a spasm of panic when the train doors closed on his bag.
a spasm of panic
A spasm of laughter ran through the room after Ravindra copied the alarm sound.
a spasm of laughter
For one spasm of energy, Mayumi cleaned the kitchen before sitting down again.
Eliska had a spasm of jealousy when the prize went to another singer.
- calm
a steady state without a sudden emotional flare-up
文法句型
a spasm of + emotion
a spasm of laughter
a spasm of energy
用法筆記
Often appears in phrases such as 'a spasm of laughter', 'a spasm of panic', or 'a spasm of energy'. Unlike sense 1, the source is an emotion, urge, or short-lived burst of activity rather than a muscle.
常見錯誤
spasm — verb
- spasmpresent simple I / you / we / they
- spasms3rd person singular
- spasming-ing form
- spasmedpast simple
1. to jerk or tighten suddenly without meaning to, especially because a muscle reac
to jerk or tighten suddenly without meaning to, especially because a muscle reacts by itself.
Kwame's left eyelid spasmed during the interview after too much coffee.
body part + spasmed
As the nurse removed the bandage, Dahlia's calf spasmed once and then settled.
spasmed once and then settled
The injured dog's leg spasmed whenever the vet touched the swollen area.
After the crash, Ilan's hand spasmed around the steering wheel for a second.
- relax
to loosen instead of tightening suddenly
文法句型
body part + spasmed
spasm + adverbial phrase
用法筆記
Most often used with muscles, eyelids, backs, or hands as the subject. It describes an uncontrolled body reaction, not a deliberate action done to something else.