SPASM
What does "SPASM" mean?
A sudden involuntary contraction of a muscle or muscle group.
Meanings
- An abrupt, involuntary tightening of a muscle. A spasm in his calf woke him at three in the morning.
- A sudden brief burst of activity, emotion, or feeling. A spasm of guilt crossed her face before she answered. figurative
Did you know?
- That annoying eyelid flutter is a real muscle spasm with a clinical name, myokymia, and it is usually triggered by ordinary culprits like stress, caffeine, and lack of sleep rather than anything sinister.
Word origin
From Greek 'spasmos', a cramp or convulsion, from 'span' (to draw or pull tight), through Latin 'spasmus' into English; the same root pulls through 'spastic'.
Remember it
SPASM hides the snap of a muscle: the sharp 'sp' grabs and the 'asm' won't let go.
A little poem
The calf locks at night-
a fist the body makes
without asking you.
haiku
Wordplay
- My eyelid started twitching during the meeting, which was the only part of me honest enough to react to the agenda.
What it teaches
The body sometimes acts before you consent; not every motion of yours is a decision.
Quick facts
What does SPASM mean?
A sudden involuntary contraction of a muscle or muscle group.
Is SPASM a valid word?
Yes — SPASM is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.
How many letters is SPASM?
SPASM has 5 letters and 1 syllable.
Where does SPASM come from?
From Greek 'spasmos', a cramp or convulsion, from 'span' (to draw or pull tight), through Latin 'spasmus' into English; the same root pulls through 'spastic'.
What can SPASM teach us?
The body sometimes acts before you consent; not every motion of yours is a decision.
How players do
Be the first to solve it.