cramp

¹ American  

[kramp] / kræmp /

noun

1. Often cramps

   1. a sudden, involuntary, spasmodic contraction of a muscle or group of muscles, especially of the extremities, sometimes with severe pain.

   2. a piercing pain in the abdomen.

   3. 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.

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verb (used with object)

1. to affect with or as if with a cramp.

cramp ² American  

[kramp] / kræmp /

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.

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verb (used with object)

1. to fasten or hold with a cramp.

2. to confine narrowly; restrict; restrain; hamper.

3. to turn (the front wheels of a motor vehicle) by means of the steering gear; steer.

adjective

1. cramped.

idioms

1. cramp one's style, to prevent one from showing one's best abilities.

cramp ¹ British  

/ kræmp /

noun

1. Also called: cramp iron.  a strip of metal with its ends bent at right angles, used to bind masonry

2. a device for holding pieces of wood while they are glued; clamp

3. something that confines or restricts

4. a confined state or position

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verb

1. to secure or hold with a cramp

2. to confine, hamper, or restrict

3. informal to prevent a person from using his abilities or acting freely and confidently

cramp ² British  

/ kræmp /

noun

1. a painful involuntary contraction of a muscle, typically caused by overexertion, heat, or chill

2. temporary partial paralysis of a muscle group

   writer's cramp

3. (usually plural in the US and Canada) severe abdominal pain

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verb

1. (tr) to affect with or as if with a cramp

Other Word Forms

• crampingly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of cramp¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English crampe, from Old French, from Germanic; cognate with Middle Dutch crampe, Old Saxon krampo, Old High German krampfo; derivative of an adjective meaning “narrow, constrained, bent”; compare Old High German krampf, Old Norse krappr; akin to crimp ¹

Origin of cramp²

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English crampe, crompe, from Middle Dutch; see cramp ¹

Explanation

When a muscle in your body tenses up painfully, it's a cramp. If you get a cramp in your leg when you're swimming, you have to stop and stretch out the muscle until the cramp goes away. Muscle cramps are a side effect of exercise and fatigue, and they can often be avoided by stretching before and after a run or a game of basketball. Cramp is also a verb, meaning both "contract painfully," and also "hold back, or prevent free movement." This is what you mean when you say, "Mom, please don't walk me in to school — you'll cramp my style."

Example Sentences

This includes 'Sylvia's Cramp Cocktail' - named after a former member of the USA medical and physio team - which is a mixture of vitamins and minerals designed to replace those lost during a bleed.

From BBC • Sep. 16, 2025

Naive journalist turned soldier Marion Hargrove tests the patience of his superior officer, Sergeant Cramp.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 4, 2020

That particular sample came from a bathroom faucet at William Cramp elementary school, a predominantly Latino school in north-east Philadelphia.

From The Guardian • Apr. 10, 2016

"Cramp here, I don't even know it is possible to cramp here," he said to laughter after he pointed to his jaw.

From Reuters • Jan. 20, 2013

To be honest, my memories of that day didn’t include Cramp, but he must have been there, because he had all the dirt.

From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx

Related Words

• ache
• constipation
• contraction
• convulsion
• pain
• stiffness
• twinge