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cramp

Syllabification: (cramp)
Pronunciation: /kramp/
Translate cramp | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of cramp

noun

  • 1a painful, involuntary contraction of a muscle or muscles, typically caused by fatigue or strain:he suffered severe cramps in his foot
  • (cramps) North American abdominal pain caused by menstruation.
  • 2a tool, typically shaped like a capital G, for clamping two objects together for gluing or other work.
  • (also cramp-iron) a metal bar with bent ends for holding masonry together.

verb

  • 1 [with object] restrict or inhibit the development of:tighter rules will cramp economic growth
  • 2 [with object] fasten with a cramp or cramps:cramp the gates to the posts
  • 3 [no object] suffer from sudden and painful contractions of a muscle or muscles.

Phrases

cramp someone's style

informal prevent a person from acting freely or naturally.

Origin:

late Middle English: from Middle Low German and Middle Dutch krampe; cramp (sense 1 of the noun) is via Old French crampe

cramp in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of cramp in the British & World English dictionary

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