Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Nearby Words

spastic

 - 7 dictionary results

spas⋅tic

  [spas-tik] Pathology
Use spastic in a Sentence
–adjective
1. pertaining to, of the nature of, or characterized by spasm, esp. tonic spasm.
–noun
2. a person exhibiting such spasms.
Origin:
1745–55; < L spasticus afflicted with spasms < Gk spastikós of a spasm, equiv. to spas-, s. of spân to pull off, pluck, convulse + -tikos -tic

Related forms:
spas⋅ti⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
spas⋅tic⋅i⋅ty  [spa-stis-i-tee] , noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To spastic
spas·tic   (spās'tĭk)   
adj.  

  1. Of, relating to, or characterized by spasms: a spastic colon; a spastic form of cerebral palsy.

  2. Affected by spastic paralysis.

  3. Offensive Slang Clumsy or inept.

n.  A person affected with spastic paralysis.

[Latin spasticus, from Greek spastikos, from spān, to pull.]
spas'ti·cal·ly adv., spas·tic'i·ty (spā-stĭs'ĭ-tē) n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary
spastic

  1. mod.
    overly responsive; out of control. : She can get so spastic when I come in late.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

spastic  (adj.)
1753, from L. spasticus, from Gk. spastikos "afflicted with spasms," lit. "drawing, pulling," from span "draw up" (see spasm). The noun meaning "a person affected with spastic paralysis" is attested from 1896; derogatory slang shortening spaz first recorded 1965.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 1spas·tic
Pronunciation: 'spas-tik
Function: adjective
1 : of, relating to, or characterized by spasm
2 : affected with or marked by spasticity or spastic paralysis spastic patient> <spastic hemiplegia> —spas·ti·cal·ly /-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb

Main Entry: 2spastic
Function: noun
: an individual affected with spastic paralysis
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

spastic spas·tic (spās'tĭk)
adj.

  1. Relating to or affected by spasm.

  2. Relating to spastic paralysis.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see spastic on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way