sprain
n.n. an injury to a joint, usually in your ankle, where the ligaments are stretched or torn. It happens when you twist or turn your joint too far.
n. a partial or complete tear of a ligament, typically resulting from a sudden twisting motion of a joint. Often used to describe injuries to the ankle or wrist.
He had a sprained ankle after playing soccer.
The athlete had to wear a brace for six weeks after suffering a severe sprain during the championship game.
While a minor sprain may heal with rest and ice, a complete ligament rupture often requires surgical intervention to restore the joint's stability and prevent long-term arthritis.
1601, verb attested 1622. Possibly borrowed from Middle French espraindre (“to press out, to wring”), from Latin exprimere, in which case cognate to express.