spasm
- 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.
Origin of spasm
Synonyms for spasm
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comRelated Words for spasm
pain, eruption, seizure, paroxysm, convulsion, outburst, contraction, jerk, burst, throe, access, attack, frenzy, yankExamples from the Web for spasm
Contemporary Examples of spasm
A spasm of computer trouble yesterday delayed finishing some thoughts on Mitt Romney's USA Today op-ed about social safety nets.
For three straight days, a spasm of violence has gripped Cairo, leaving 13 people dead and scores wounded.
Essentially, this is no more than a spasm of mindless and brutal high summer destruction.
Historical Examples of spasm
Ma nearly had a spasm, but she liked the looks of things when we had finished.
Grace Harlowe's Return to Overton CampusJessie Graham Flower
The spasm of fear which crosses my heart summons it to my aid.
The Conquest of FearBasil King
The eyes glowed with the fires of a man's heart in a spasm of hate.
Within the LawMarvin Dana
After a time the spasm relaxed, but her condition remained alarming.
KMary Roberts Rinehart
The spasm loosed beads of perspiration which stood cold on his forehead.
ThoroughbredsW. A. Fraser
spasm
- an involuntary muscular contraction, esp one resulting in cramp or convulsion
- a sudden burst of activity, emotion, etc
Word Origin for spasm
Word Origin and History for spasm
c.1400, from Old French spasme, from Latin spasmus "a spasm," from Greek spasmos "a spasm, convulsion," from span "draw up, tear away, contract violently, pull," from PIE *spe- "stretch." Figurative sense of "a sudden convulsion" (of emotion, politics, etc.) is attested from 1817.
1900, from spasm (n.). Related: Spasmed; spasming.
spasm
(spăz′əm)- A sudden involuntary contraction of a muscle or group of muscles.
- A muscle spasm.