cramp

Definition of cramp in English English dictionary: A painful contraction of a muscle which cannot be controlled; To prohibit movement or expression
You're cramping my style.; To restrain to a specific physical position
You're going to need to cramp the wheels on this hill.; To contract painfully and uncontrollably; A clamp for carpentry or masonry; {n} a contraction of the limbs, confinement, bent piece of iron to keep things fast by; {v} to confine, hinder, stop, bind, pain; lack of mobility See the examples on Space in Strategy/Themes section of the Canon; "U" shaped metal anchors used to attach two abutting units; {i} muscle contraction; clamp, bar which holds objects together; Equivalent term to 'Clamp'; To form on a cramp; as, to cramp boot legs; Cramp is a sudden strong pain caused by a muscle suddenly contracting. You sometimes get cramp in a muscle after you have been making a physical effort over a long period of time. Hillsden was complaining of cramp in his calf muscles She started getting stomach cramps this morning; prevent the progress or free movement of; "He was hampered in his efforts by the bad weather"; "the imperilist nation wanted to strangle the free trade between the two small countries"; A rectangular frame, with a tightening screw, used for compressing the joints of framework, etc; A painful muscle spasm caused by prolonged tetanic contraction; A spasmodic and painful involuntary contraction of a muscle or muscles, as of the leg; Knotty; difficult; What happens when muscles contract strongly and painfully; To fasten or hold with, or as with, a cramp; A piece of wood having a curve corresponding to that of the upper part of the instep, on which the upper leather of a boot is stretched to give it the requisite shape; a strip of metal with ends bent at right angles; used to hold masonry together; {f} confine, impede, restrain; constrict; fasten with a clamp; A device, usually of iron bent at the ends, used to hold together blocks of stone, timbers, etc; A paralysis of certain muscles due to excessive use; as, writer's cramp; milker's cramp, etc; a strip of metal with ends bent at right angles; used to hold masonry together a clamp for holding pieces of wood together while they are glued secure with a cramp; "cramp the wood; If someone or something cramps your style, their presence or existence restricts your behaviour in some way. Like more and more women, she believes marriage would cramp her style. Painful, involuntary, sustained contraction of muscle in limbs or some internal organs. Causes may be neurological, reflex, or psychological. Common muscle cramps include swimmer's cramp from overexertion in cold water, heat cramps from loss of salt in sweat, leg cramps, and occupational (e.g., writer's) cramp. Menstrual cramps are uterine muscle contractions before or during menstruation. Cramps occur in diseases including parkinsonism and Huntington chorea. Tetany is severe cramping noticed first in limb muscles; That which confines or contracts; a restraint; a shackle; a hindrance; a cramp iron; — A painful, involuntary spasmodic contraction; a painful and involuntary muscular contraction; Painful, often spasmodic, uncontrollable tightening of a muscle (e g the calf), usually relieved by pulling the end of the affected part (e g the foot) in the opposite direction, stretching the injured muscle; to bind together; to unite; secure with a cramp; "cramp the wood"; a clamp for holding pieces of wood together while they are glued; Involuntary tensing of muscles in dialysis, usually due to excess removal of fluid, can be remedied with sodium profiling, dextrose or quinine prior to treatment; To afflict with cramp; To compress; to restrain from free action; to confine and contract; to hinder
cramp iron: An iron bar, bent at right angles at each end, used to hold masonry together
cramp iron: An arrangement of iron wedges inserted into a cavity to lift heavy stones; a lewis
cramp someone's style: to restrict someone's free actions, or to give the impression of such
I don't want my Mum to go to the party - she'd really cramp my style.
cramp fish: marine fish with pair of organs that produce electric discharge (person touched by this fish feels slight shock and numbness or tremor and sickness of the stomach), electric ray, torpedo fish
cramp iron: See Cramp, n
cramp iron: A bar, usually of iron, with right-angle bends at both ends, used for permanently holding together stones, timber, and other materials used in building
cramped: uncomfortably restricted in size
cramped: tight because of or like suffering a cramp
cramped: overcrowded or congested
cramped: Simple past tense and past participle of cramp
cramps: A cramping of muscles, especially in the abdomen or uterus
cramps: plural form of cramp
cramps: Third-person singular simple present indicative form of cramp
wanker's cramp: An ache in the wrist caused by repetitive movements
It's amazing how you can get wanker's cramp from frantically squeezing a brake lever.
cramped: {a} fastened, confined, hindered, held
A cramp: dogtie
cramped: {s} confined or severely limited in space; affected with cramps
cramped: A cramped room or building is not big enough for the people or things in it. There are hundreds of families living in cramped conditions on the floor of the airport lounge = confined spacious, roomy
cramped: constricted in size; "cramped quarters"; "trying to bring children up in cramped high-rise apartments
cramping: present participle of cramp
cramps: plural of cramp
cramps: third-person singular of cramp
writer's cramp: muscular spasms of thumb and forefinger while writing with a pen or pencil
writer's cramp: cramps in the hand or arm (as a result of writing too much)
writer's cramp: A cramp or spasm of the muscles of the fingers, hand, and forearm during writing. a feeling of stiffness in your hand that you get after writing for a long time

cramp

Turkish pronunciation

krämp

Synonyms

ache, charley horse, circumscription, confinement, constipation, contraction, convulsion, crick, hindrance, impediment, kink, obstruction, pain, pang, restriction

Antonyms

allow, let go, release

Pronunciation

/ˈkramp/ /ˈkræmp/

Etymology

[ 'kramp ] (noun.) 14th century. Middle English crampe, from Middle French, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch crampe; akin to Old High German krampf bent.