sprain

  • 1Sprain — Sprain, n. The act or result of spraining; lameness caused by spraining; as, a bad sprain of the wrist. [1913 Webster] {Sprain fracture} (Med.), the separation of a tendon from its point of insertion, with the detachment of a shell of bone to… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2Sprain — (spr[=a]n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Sprained} (spr[=a]nd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Spraining}.] [OF. espreindreto press, to force out, F. [ e]preindre, fr. L. exprimere. See {Express}, v. t., and cf. {Spraints}.] To weaken, as a joint, ligament, or muscle …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 3sprain — [spreın] v [T] to damage a joint in your body by suddenly twisting it = ↑twist ▪ I fell down the steps and sprained my ankle . >sprain n ▪ I thought my wrist might be broken, but it was just a bad sprain …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 4sprain — n *strain sprain vb strain (see under STRAIN n) …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 5sprain — (n.) c.1600, of uncertain origin. The verb is attested from 1620s. A connection has been suggested to M.Fr. espraindre to press out, from L. exprimere, but the sense evolution is difficult …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 6sprain — ► VERB ▪ wrench the ligaments of (a joint) violently so as to cause pain and swelling but not dislocation. ► NOUN ▪ the result of such a wrench. ORIGIN of unknown origin …

    English terms dictionary

  • 7sprain — [sprān] vt. [< ? OFr espreindre, to force out, strain < VL * expremere, for L exprimere: see EXPRESS] to wrench or twist a ligament or muscle of (a joint, as the ankle) without dislocating the bones n. 1. an act of spraining 2. the… …

    English World dictionary

  • 8Sprain — ] * Rest: The sprain should be rested. No additional force should be applied on site of the sprain. If, for example, the sprain were an ankle sprain, then walking should be kept to a minimum.cite web|url=http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A… …

    Wikipedia

  • 9sprain — I UK [spreɪn] / US verb [transitive] Word forms sprain : present tense I/you/we/they sprain he/she/it sprains present participle spraining past tense sprained past participle sprained to injure a joint such as your wrist by suddenly stretching or …

    English dictionary

  • 10sprain — 1. An injury to a ligament as a result of abnormal or excessive forces applied to a joint, but without dislocation or fracture. 2. To cause a s. of a joint. * * * sprain sprān n a sudden or violent twist or wrench of a joint causing the… …

    Medical dictionary