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Meaning of SPASM

Pronunciation:  'spazum

WordNet Dictionary
 
 Definition: 
  1. [n]  (pathology) sudden constriction of a hollow organ (as a blood vessel)
  2. [n]  a painful and involuntary muscular contraction
 
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 Synonyms: cramp, muscle spasm
 
 See Also: blepharospasm, bronchospasm, cardiospasm, charleyhorse, constriction, crick, graphospasm, heave, laryngismus, myoclonus, opisthotonos, retch, rick, symptom, tenesmus, trismus, twitch, twitching, vellication, wrick, writer's cramp

 

 

Webster's 1913 Dictionary
 
 Definition: 
\Spasm\, n. [F. spasme, L. spasmus, Gr. ?, from ?, ?, to
draw, to cause convulsion. Cf. {Span}, v. t.]
1. (Med.) An involuntary and unnatural contraction of one or
   more muscles or muscular fibers.
Note: Spasm are usually either clonic or tonic. In clonic
      spasm, the muscles or muscular fibers contract and
      relax alternately in very quick succession. In tonic
      spasm, the contraction is steady and uniform, and
      continues for a comparatively long time, as in tetanus.
2. A sudden, violent, and temporary effort or emotion; as, a
   spasm of repentance.
{Cynic spasm} (Med.) See under {Cynic}.
{Spasm of the chest}. See {Angina pectoris}, under {Angina}.
 
Medical Dictionary
 
 Definition: a condition in which a muscle or group of muscles involuntarily contract.
 

 

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