English Explanatory Dictionary

convulse

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To suffer violent involuntary contractions of the muscles, causing one's body to contort.
  2. To be beset by political or social upheaval.
  3. To cause (someone) to suffer such contractions, especially as a result of making them laugh heartily.
  4. To cause disruption to.

Pronunciation

/kənˈvʌls/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-convulse.wav

Word forms

convulse convulses convulsing convulsed

Etymology

From Latin convulsus, past participle of convellere (“to pluck up, dislocate, convulse”), from com- (“together”) + vellere (“to pluck, pull”). Doublet of convel.

Related words

convulsant convulsible convulsion convulsive

Derived words

unconvulsed

Translations

Bulgarian: треса се Bulgarian: получавам конвулсии Chinese Cantonese: 劇烈震動 /剧烈震动 Finnish: sätkiä French: convulser German: erschüttern Japanese: 振動させる Manx: co-leayst Portuguese: convulsionar Portuguese: convelir Quechua: arqhepay Spanish: convulsionar Spanish: crispar Swedish: skaka Swedish: kikna Turkish: sarsmak
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