cramp

1
[ kramp ]
See synonyms for: crampcrampedcrampercrampest on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. Often cramps .

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

    • a piercing pain in the abdomen.

    • 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.

verb (used with object)
  1. to affect with or as if with a cramp.

Origin of cramp

1
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 crimp1

Words Nearby cramp

Other definitions for cramp (2 of 2)

cramp2
[ kramp ]

noun
  1. a portable frame or tool with a movable part that can be screwed up to hold things together; clamp.

  1. anything that confines or restrains.

  2. a cramped state or part.

verb (used with object)
  1. to fasten or hold with a cramp.

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

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

adjective

Origin of cramp

2
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English crampe, crompe, from Middle Dutch; see cramp1

Other words from cramp

  • cramp·ing·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use cramp in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for cramp (1 of 2)

cramp1

/ (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

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

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

Origin of cramp

1
C14: from Old French crampe, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German krampho

British Dictionary definitions for cramp (2 of 2)

cramp2

/ (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

  1. something that confines or restricts

  2. a confined state or position

verb(tr)
  1. to secure or hold with a cramp

  2. to confine, hamper, or restrict

  1. cramp someone's style informal to prevent a person from using his abilities or acting freely and confidently

Origin of cramp

2
C15: from Middle Dutch crampe cramp, hook, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German khramph bent; see cramp 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012