pain
[ peyn ]
/ peɪn /
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noun
verb (used with object)
to cause physical pain to; hurt.
to cause (someone) mental or emotional pain; distress: Your sarcasm pained me.
verb (used without object)
to have or give pain.
SYNONYMS FOR pain
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Idioms for pain
Origin of pain
1250–1300; Middle English peine punishment, torture, pain <Old French <Latin poena penalty, pain <Greek poinḗ penalty
synonym study for pain
1-3. Pain , ache , agony , anguish are terms for sensations causing suffering or torment. Pain and ache usually refer to physical sensations (except heartache ); agony and anguish may be physical or mental. Pain suggests a sudden sharp twinge: a pain in one's ankle. Ache applies to a continuous pain, whether acute or dull: headache; muscular aches. Agony implies a continuous, excruciating, scarcely endurable pain: in agony from a wound. Anguish suggests not only extreme and long-continued pain, but also a feeling of despair. 4a. See care.
OTHER WORDS FROM pain
un·der·pain, nounun·pain·ing, adjectiveWords nearby pain
paillasse, paillette, paillon, pai-loo, Paimio chair, pain, Paine, pained, Painesville, Paine, Thomas, painful
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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British Dictionary definitions for pain
pain
/ (peɪn) /
noun
the sensation of acute physical hurt or discomfort caused by injury, illness, etc
emotional suffering or mental distress
on pain of subject to the penalty of
Also called: pain in the neck, (taboo) pain in the arse informal a person or thing that is a nuisance
verb (tr)
to cause (a person) distress, hurt, grief, anxiety, etc
informal to annoy; irritate
See also pains
Word Origin for pain
C13: from Old French peine, from Latin poena punishment, grief, from Greek poinē penalty
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
Medical definitions for pain
pain
[ pān ]
n.
An unpleasant sensation occurring in varying degrees of severity as a consequence of injury, disease, or emotional disorder.
One of the uterine contractions occurring in childbirth.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Idioms and Phrases with pain
pain
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.