plural noun
convulsions
kuhn-VUL-shuhnz
Convulsions (plural noun) means Sudden, violent and uncontrollable contractions of the muscles, usually affecting much of the body and often caused by a seizure or a high fever. Example: “The child was taken to hospital after suffering convulsions.”
plural noun
1
medical Sudden, violent and uncontrollable contractions of the muscles, usually affecting much of the body and often caused by a seizure or a high fever.
"The child was taken to hospital after suffering convulsions."
"Febrile convulsions are frightening to watch but rarely cause lasting harm."
2
Violent upheaval or disruption within a society, market or institution.
"The convulsions of the 1930s reshaped European politics."
3
informal Uncontrollable fits of laughter, in the phrase "in convulsions".
"His impression of the head teacher had the whole class in convulsions."
How to use convulsions
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishViolent uncontrolled shaking of the body.
When to use it
Medical in the main sense; the laughter sense is informal and always plural.
Memory tip
The singular convulsion exists but the plural is far more usual for the medical sense.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
febrile convulsions
suffer convulsions
go into convulsions
in convulsions of laughter
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The child was taken to hospital after suffering _____.
Etymology
From Latin convulsio, from convellere "to pull violently, to wrench", from con- (intensive) and vellere "to pluck, pull".
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for convulsions
Ions
Onions
regions
mentions
stations
Billions
questions
divisions
directions
operations
reparations
connections
See all rhymes for convulsions →
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between convulsions and seizures?
A seizure is the underlying burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Convulsions are one possible outward sign of it — the violent jerking of the muscles. Many seizures produce no convulsions at all, causing only staring, confusion or brief loss of awareness.
What are febrile convulsions?
They are convulsions triggered by a rapid rise in body temperature, most often in children between six months and five years old during an infection. They usually last under five minutes and, though alarming, do not normally indicate epilepsy or cause brain damage.
What should you do if someone has convulsions?
Keep them safe rather than trying to restrain them: move hard objects away, cushion the head, do not put anything in the mouth, and turn them onto their side once the movements stop. Call emergency services if it lasts more than five minutes, repeats, or the person is injured or does not recover.
What is the meaning of convulsions?
"convulsions" (plural noun) means sudden, violent and uncontrollable contractions of the muscles, usually affecting much of the body and often caused by a seizure or a high fever.
