cramp

noun
UK: /kræmp/
US: /kræmp/

  1. A sudden, painful tightening of a muscle.

    1. I got a cramp in my leg while swimming.
    2. Dehydration can increase the risk of muscle cramps during exercise.

  2. A painful localized muscle contraction, often in the leg or foot.

    1. He had a terrible cramp during the night and couldn't move.
    2. The athlete stretched carefully to avoid getting a cramp in their calf.

Synonyms

spasm contraction
cramp intransitive-verb

  1. To experience a sudden, painful tightening of a muscle.

    1. My foot started to cramp up after running.
    2. If you don't stretch, your muscles might cramp while playing.

  2. To have a sudden painful tightening in a muscle.

    1. The swimmer began to cramp up in the cold water so he had to get out.
    2. Long hours of sitting can cause your back muscles to cramp and become sore.
cramp transitive-verb

  1. To cause a muscle to tighten painfully.

    1. The cold water cramped my muscles.
    2. Lack of potassium can cramp your muscles during activity.

  2. To affect with or as if with a cramp.

    1. The awkward position cramped my style and I did not feel comfortable.
    2. His strict rules cramped our creativity and we felt stifled in the project.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "cramp" in English means: A sudden, painful tightening of a muscle., A painful localized muscle contraction, often in the leg or foot..

The phonetic transcription of "cramp" is /kræmp/ in British English and /kræmp/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "cramp": spasm, contraction.

Example usage of "cramp": "I got a cramp in my leg while swimming.". More examples on the page.