cramp

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /kræmp/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

Noun

Singular cramp

Plural cramps

1. (countable) A cramp is a painful contraction of the muscle that cannot be controlled.

   Quick, save him! He is having muscle cramps and is about to drown in the water!

Verb

Plain form cramp

Third-person singular cramps

Past tense cramped

Past participle cramped

Present participle cramping

1. (intransitive) If a muscle cramps, it contracts in a painful way.

   My legs cramped in the middle of my run.

2. (transitive) If you are cramped by something, you are restricted by it in some way; you are not able to move around or express things.