convulse

con·vulse

verb \kən-ˈvəls\

con·vulsedcon·vuls·ing

Definition of CONVULSE

transitive verb

: to shake or agitate violently; especially : to shake with or as if with irregular spasms <was convulsed with laughter>

intransitive verb

: to become affected with convulsions

Examples of CONVULSE

1. The patient reacted to the medication and began convulsing.
2. The country was convulsed by war.

Origin of CONVULSE

Latin convulsus, past participle of convellere to pluck up, convulse, from com- + vellere to pluck — more at vulnerable

First Known Use: 1614

Related to CONVULSE

Synonyms: agitate, bucket, shake, jerk, jiggle, joggle, jolt, jounce, judder [chiefly British], quake, quiver, shudder, vibrate, wobble (also wabble)

Related Words: rock, sway, swing; chatter, quaver, shiver, thrill, tremble; twitch; dodder, waver; flicker, fluctuate, flutter, oscillate, undulate, wave; beat, palpitate, pit-a-pat, pitter-patter, pulsate, pulse, throb

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See Synonym Discussion at shake

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

Rhymes with CONVULSE

avulse, expulse, impulse, repulse