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spasm

[spaz-uhm]

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noun

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).

any sudden, brief spell of great energy, activity, feeling, etc.

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Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English spasme < Latin spasmus < Greek spasmós convulsion, derivative of spân to draw a sword or cord, wrench (off), convulse

Synonyms
2. fit, storm, flash, spurt.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To spasm

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Spasm is always a great word to know.

So is doohickey. Does it mean:

a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.

a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.

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Example Sentences

Coronary artery spasm is a temporary constriction of an artery in the heart.

Piriformis spasm causing sciatica is a big problem for people who sit for long periods if your hips are rotated outwards.

One country's spasm of economic nationalism does not justify another's.

EXPAND

Coronary artery spasm is a temporary constriction of an artery in the heart.

Piriformis spasm causing sciatica is a big problem for people who sit for long periods if your hips are rotated outwards.

One country's spasm of economic nationalism does not justify another's.

Whenever he was stuck in a meeting, he'd grip his pen and hold it down on a piece of paper, waiting for the spasm to kick in.

The spasm can slow or stop blood flow through the artery.

If you have peritonitis, touching the belly area may cause a spasm of the muscles.

Some people have muscle spasm and contractions in the tendons.

The muscle spasm and stiffness accompanying back pain can feel particularly uncomfortable.

Calcium blockers seem to be effective in preventing and relieving coronary artery spasm.

The next spasm came right on time: his chest jumped.

In an attempt to stabilize the vertebrae, my back muscles go into spasm several times a year, sending me into bed for days.

The spasm is followed by quick closing of the vocal cords, which.

France seemed to go through a painful spasm of rebellion, then to shrug it all off and resume business as usual.

Vietnam is at risk of undergoing a major primate extinction spasm within the next few years if rapid action is not taken.

The next morning, the marriage comes apart in a spasm of mutual recrimination.

The fish came to my first cast, bending the bamboo rod into a smooth arc and sending a spasm of vibrations up my arm.

The fog of petty selfishness that has shrouded her life clears when she feels a sudden spasm of kindness for a.

Contradicting a last spasm of rage against futility, an almost beatific, childlike innocence floods the woman's face.

Asthma occurs when airways in the lungs spasm and swell, restricting the supply of oxygen.

My legs trembled as a muscle spasm erupted in my back.

Emmert, the university chancellor, said to a spasm of laughter.

In older people, the condition is usually caused by a spasm or weakening of the muscles surrounding the lower part of the eye.

Stertzer injected a dose of nitroglycerine to help prevent a potentially dangerous spasm of the coronary arteries.

Juan, no doubt wearing his gold cross and his piano-keyboard grin, canceled his subscription between the desire and the spasm.

But after a brief spasm of anxiety, investors drove prices higher for three more years.

King in an effort to incite a spasm of racial violence around.

COLLAPSE

Collins

World English Dictionary

spasm (ˈspæzəm)

—n
1.	an involuntary muscular contraction, esp one resulting in cramp or convulsion
2.	a sudden burst of activity, emotion, etc

[C14: from Latin spasmus, from Greek spasmos a cramp, from span to tear]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

spasm

c.1400, from O.Fr. spasme, from L. spasmus "a spasm," from Gk. spasmos "a spasm, convulsion," from span "draw up, tear away, contract violently, pull," from PIE *spe- "stretch." Fig. sense of "a sudden convulsion" (of emotion, politics, etc.) is attested from 1817. The verb is recorded from 1900.

American Heritage

Medical Dictionary

spasm (spāz'əm)
n.

A sudden involuntary contraction of a muscle or group of muscles.
A muscle spasm.

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"The immense majority of human biographies are a gray transit between domestic spasm and oblivion."

-George Steiner

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