cramp

cramp · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A painful involuntary contraction of a muscle.

  2. 2.

    To affect with cramps.

  3. 3.

    (Often plural) Abdominal pains, especially during menstruation.

  4. 4.

    To restrict or confine.

  5. 5.

    A metal bar with bent ends for fastening things together.

Forms

plural: cramps

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    cramp someone's style — to restrict someone's natural expression or behavior

Related words

Antonyms: relaxation
See also: contraction, muscle, pain, spasm
Synonyms: contraction, pain, spasm

Etymology

From Old French "crampe," from Frankish "*kramp" meaning bent or crooked, related to German "Krampf" (convulsion).