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Noun: spasm  spa-zum
  1. A painful and involuntary muscular contraction
    "The runner suffered from muscle spasms in her calf after the marathon";
    - cramp, muscle spasm
     
  2. (pathology) sudden constriction of a hollow organ (as a blood vessel)
    "The patient experienced painful spasms in the chest"; "Muscle spasms can be a symptom of various conditions"

Derived forms: spasms

Type of: constriction, symptom

Encyclopedia: Spasm