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Cramped - 7 dictionary results
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cramped

1  [krampt]
Use Cramped in a Sentence
–adjective
affected with a cramp in a muscle or muscles.
Origin:
1670–80; cramp 1 + -ed 3

cramped

2  [krampt]
–adjective
1. confined or severely limited in space: cramped closets.
2.
a. (of handwriting) with characters written small and crowded together.
b. (of a style of writing) hard to understand; crabbed.
Origin:
1670–80; cramp 2 + -ed 2

Related forms:
crampedness, noun

cramp

1  [kramp]
–noun
1. Often, cramps.
a. a sudden, involuntary, spasmodic contraction of a muscle or group of muscles, esp. of the extremities, sometimes with severe pain.
b. a piercing pain in the abdomen.
c. an intermittent, painful contraction of structures of a wall containing involuntary muscle, as in biliary colic or in the uterine contractions of menstruation or of labor.
2. writer's cramp.
–verb (used with object)
3. to affect with or as if with a cramp.
Origin:
1325–75; ME crampe < OF < Gmc; c. MD crampe, OS krampo, OHG krampfo; deriv. of adj. meaning narrow, constrained, bent; cf. OHG krampf, ON krappr; akin to crimp

cramp

2  [kramp]
–noun
1. cramp iron.
2. a portable frame or tool with a movable part that can be screwed up to hold things together; clamp.
3. anything that confines or restrains.
4. a cramped state or part.
–verb (used with object)
5. to fasten or hold with a cramp.
6. to confine narrowly; restrict; restrain; hamper.
7. to turn (the front wheels of a motor vehicle) by means of the steering gear; steer.
–adjective
8. cramped 2 .
—Idiom
9. cramp one's style, Informal. to prevent one from showing one's best abilities.
Origin:
1375–1425; late ME crampe < MD: hook. See cramp 1

Related forms:
cramp⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Cramped
cramp 1   (krāmp)   
n.  
  1. A sudden, involuntary, spasmodic muscular contraction causing severe pain, often occurring in the leg or shoulder as the result of strain or chill.
  2. A temporary partial paralysis of habitually or excessively used muscles.
  3. cramps Spasmodic contractions of the uterus, such as those occurring during menstruation or labor, usually causing pain in the abdomen that may radiate to the lower back and thighs.
v.   cramped, cramp·ing, cramps

v.   tr.
To affect with or as if with a cramp.
v.   intr.
To suffer from or experience cramps.

[Middle English crampe, from Old French, of Germanic origin.]
cramp 2   (krāmp)   
n.  
  1. A frame with an adjustable part to hold pieces together; a clamp.
  2. A cramp iron.
  3. A compressing or restraining force, influence, or thing.
  4. A confined position or part.
tr.v.   cramped, cramp·ing, cramps
  1. To hold together with a cramp.
  2. To shut in so closely as to restrict the physical freedom of: were cramped in the tiny cubicle.
    1. To steer (the wheels of a vehicle) to make a turn.
    2. To jam (a wheel) by a short turn.
adj.  Cramped.

[Middle English crampe, probably from Middle Dutch, hook, cramp. Adj., probably akin to Icelandic krappr, constrained, tight, and Old High German cramf, squeezed.]
cramped   (krāmpt)   
adj.  
  1. Uncomfortably small or restricted: cramped living quarters.
  2. Difficult to read, especially for being crowded into a small space: cramped handwriting.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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