convulsion

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(kən-vŭl'shən) pronunciation
n.
  1. An intense, paroxysmal, involuntary muscular contraction.
  2. An uncontrolled fit, as of laughter; a paroxysm.
  3. Violent turmoil: "The market convulsions of the last few weeks have shaken the world" (Felix Rohatyn).

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noun

  1. The condition of being physically agitated: agitation, commotion, turbulence. See calm/agitation.
  2. A momentous or sweeping change: cataclysm, revolution, upheaval. See change/persist.
  3. A condition of anguished struggle and disorder: paroxysm, throe (used in plural). See calm/agitation.

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n

Definition: disturbance
Antonyms: harmony, peace

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convulsion, sudden, violent, involuntary contraction of the muscles of the body, often accompanied by loss of consciousness. It is not known what causes the abnormal impulses from the brain that result in convulsive seizures, since the disturbance may arise in normal brain tissue as well as in diseased or injured tissue. Convulsions may occur in such conditions as epilepsy, poisoning, high fever (especially in young children), disturbances of calcium or phosphorus metabolism, alkalosis, diabetes, oxygen insufficiency, and a low blood-sugar content, as well as in local irritation or injury of the brain. Persons undergoing convulsions should be guarded against self-injury (see epilepsy). Otherwise, treatment must be directed to the underlying cause.


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.

A series of involuntary contractions of the voluntary muscles. Convulsive seizures are symptomatic of some neurological disorder; they are not in themselves a disease entity. In animals, they are most often caused by infectious agents and toxins. Convulsions are also produced by any of a number of metabolic disorders, such as hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia and hormonal imbalances; brain cell injury from head trauma, tumors and degenerative neural disease; anoxia and hemorrhage which deprive brain cells of vital substances; and acute cerebral edema which interferes with normal brain cell function. Epilepsy is also a cause of convulsions in dogs and cattle. Called also fit, ictus. See also seizure.

  • inherited c. and ataxia of cattle — see familial convulsions and ataxia of cattle.
(kənvul′shən)
n

An intense seizure.

Random House Word Menu:

categories related to 'convulsion'

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Random House Word Menu by Stephen Glazier
For a list of words related to convulsion, see:
  • Signs and Symptoms - convulsion: involuntary muscle contraction that causes contorted movements of body and limbs


Translations:

Convulsion

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - krampeanfald, jordskælv, omvæltning, voldsom politisk agitation, latterkrampe

Nederlands (Dutch)
stuiptrekking, natuurramp, sociale/ politieke opschudding, onbedwingbaar gelach

Français (French)
n. - convulsion

Deutsch (German)
n. - Konvulsion, Schüttelkrampf, Erschütterung

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - σύσπαση, σπασμός, αναστάτωση, αναταραχή

Italiano (Italian)
convulsione

Português (Portuguese)
n. - convulsão (f), revolução (f)

Русский (Russian)
конвульсия, спазм

Español (Spanish)
n. - convulsión

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - krampryckningar, våldsamt anfall, paroxysm, omvälvning (pol.)

中文(简体)(Chinese (Simplified))
震动, 动乱, 震撼

中文(繁體)(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 震動, 動亂, 震撼

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 경련, 혼란, 이변

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 痙攣, 発作, 激動, 異変, けいれん

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) تشنج, رعصه, اهتزاز‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮התכווצות, עווית, זעזוע, התפתלות‬


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