cramp
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a sudden, sharp pain in a muscle that becomes tight and hard to move.
n.a painful, involuntary contraction of a muscle or group of muscles, typically caused by fatigue or strain.
Simple“The swimmer had to stop because he got a bad cramp in his leg.”
In context“Athletes are often advised to stay hydrated to prevent the onset of muscle cramps during high-intensity endurance events.”
UsageOften used with 'get' or 'have'.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.pains in the lower stomach area that some women feel during their period.
n.painful sensations, often described as spasms, occurring in the lower abdomen during menstruation.
Simple“She stayed home from work because she was suffering from severe stomach cramps.”
In context“While mild menstrual cramps are common, chronic pelvic pain may require a consultation with a specialist to rule out underlying conditions.”
UsageUsually used in the plural form 'cramps'.
Synonymsmenstrual pain - 03 C1 Advanced
v.to limit someone's freedom or prevent them from developing naturally.
v.to restrict or hamper the development, movement, or expression of someone or something.
Simple“Living in such a small apartment really cramps my style.”
In context“The new government regulations threatened to cramp the startup's ability to innovate within the rapidly evolving tech sector.”
UsageCommonly used in the idiom 'cramp someone's style'.
Teacher's tipThe figurative use is most common in the fixed phrase 'cramp my style', meaning to prevent someone from acting the way they want to.
Antonyms - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.when a muscle suddenly becomes tight and very painful.
v.to experience or be affected by involuntary muscle spasms.
Simple“My calf muscle started to cramp halfway through the marathon.”
In context“The patient reported that his hands would frequently cramp after several hours of repetitive typing at his desk.”
Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *krampôder. Frankish *krampōder. Proto-Germanic *krampôder. Middle Dutch crampeder. Old French crampebor. Middle English crampe English cramp From Middle English crampe, from Old French crampe (“cramp”), from Frankish krampa (“cramp”), from Proto-West Germanic krampu, from Proto-Germanic *krampō (“cramp, clasp”). Distant relative of English crop.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.