CONVULSION

Pronunciation (US):

• CONVULSION (noun)
  The noun CONVULSION has 4 senses:

1. a sudden uncontrollable attack
2. violent uncontrollable contractions of muscles
3. a violent disturbance
4. a physical disturbance such as an earthquake or upheaval

  Familiarity information: CONVULSION used as a noun is uncommon.

• CONVULSION (noun)

Meaning:

A sudden uncontrollable attack

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

convulsion; paroxysm; fit

Context examples:

a paroxysm of giggling / a fit of coughing / convulsions of laughter

Hypernyms ("convulsion" is a kind of...):

attack (a sudden occurrence of an uncontrollable condition)

Meaning:

Violent uncontrollable contractions of muscles

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("convulsion" is a kind of...):

ictus; raptus; seizure (a sudden occurrence (or recurrence) of a disease)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "convulsion"):

clonus (convulsion characterized by alternating contractions and relaxations)

epileptic seizure (convulsions accompanied by impaired consciousness)

Meaning:

A violent disturbance

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

turmoil; upheaval; convulsion

Context example:

the convulsions of the stock market

Hypernyms ("convulsion" is a kind of...):

commotion; disruption; disturbance; flutter; hoo-ha; hoo-hah; hurly burly; kerfuffle; to-do (a disorderly outburst or tumult)

Meaning:

A physical disturbance such as an earthquake or upheaval

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("convulsion" is a kind of...):

trouble (an event causing distress or pain)