- [countable, uncountable]
a sudden and often painful contracting of a muscle, which you cannot control 痉挛；抽搐 Cholera reduces heartbeat and causes muscle spasms. 霍乱会使心跳变慢并引起肌肉痉挛。 The injection sent his leg into spasm. 一针打下去，他的腿就痉挛了。
Extra ExamplesHe suffered a back spasm while playing football. 他踢球的时候背部突然发生痉挛。 She could not speak; her throat was in spasm. 她的喉咙抽搐着，说不出话来。 The muscle goes into spasm, producing the symptom of cramp. 肌肉开始抽搐，出现了痛性痉挛的症状。 involuntary spasms of the nervous system 神经系统不由自主的痉挛 His face went into a spasm of nervous twitches. 他的脸一阵紧张抽搐。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- sudden
- involuntary
- uncontrollable
- …
- experience
- feel
- suffer
- …
- pass
- stop
- in spasm
- spasm of
- a spasm of pain
- [countable] spasm (of something)
a sudden strong feeling or reaction that lasts for a short time （感情或反应）一阵阵发作，阵发 a spasm of anxiety/anger/coughing/pain, etc. 突然一阵焦虑、愤怒、咳嗽、疼痛等
Extra ExamplesHis voice broke and a spasm of pain contorted his face. 他失声了，一阵疼痛扭曲了他的脸。 He kicked the chair in a spasm of impatience. 他突然变得不耐烦，一脚踢向椅子。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- sudden
- involuntary
- uncontrollable
- …
- experience
- feel
- suffer
- …
- pass
- stop
- in spasm
- spasm of
- a spasm of pain
Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French spasme, or via Latin from Greek spasmos, spasma, from span ‘pull’.