convulsion

[ kuhn-vuhl-shuhn ]

noun

1. contortion of the body caused by violent, involuntary muscular contractions of the extremities, trunk, and head.
2. violent agitation or disturbance; commotion.
3. an outburst of great, uncontrollable laughter.

convulsion

/ kənˈvʌlʃən /

noun

1. a violent involuntary contraction of a muscle or muscles
2. a violent upheaval, disturbance, or agitation, esp a social one
3. informal.
   usually plural uncontrollable laughter

   I was in convulsions

convulsion

1. A severe, often violent involuntary contraction of the muscles. Convulsions may be caused by high fevers or poisoning and often accompany such diseases such as epilepsy .

Derived Forms

• conˈvulsionary, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of convulsion¹

First recorded in 1575–85, convulsion is from the Latin word convulsiōn- (stem of convulsiō ). See convulse, -ion

Example Sentences

The remaining two recordings were triggered by sound or motion, but only one suggested that a muscle convulsion, a sign of seizure, had occurred.

From Science Daily

It opens in Paris amid that convulsion of violence called the Terror, with surging, shouting crowds and the metallic hiss of the falling guillotine blade.

From New York Times

To test his theory, Meduna chemically induced a convulsion in a catatonic patient.

From Salon

The country is almost certainly not on the brink of some new transformative convulsion.

From New York Times

Even after a second convulsion of 1945, the "great" families survived.

From BBC

Related Words

• agitation
• cataclysm
• tumult
• turbulence
• upheaval