pain

¹pain

noun \ˈpān\

Definition of PAIN

1

: punishment

2

a : usu. localized physical suffering associated with bodily disorder (as a disease or an injury); also : a basic bodily sensation induced by a noxious stimulus, received by naked nerve endings, characterized by physical discomfort (as pricking, throbbing, or aching), and typically leading to evasive action b : acute mental or emotional distress or suffering : grief

3

plural : the throes of childbirth

4

plural : trouble, care, or effort taken to accomplish something <was at pains to reassure us>

5

: one that irks or annoys or is otherwise troublesome —often used in such phrases as pain in the neck

— pain·less \-ləs\ adjective

— pain·less·ly adverb

— pain·less·ness noun

— on pain of or under pain of

: subject to penalty or punishment of <made to leave the country on pain of death>

Examples of PAIN

1. The medication may upset your stomach but if you experience acute abdominal pain call your doctor.
2. I've had chronic back pain since the accident.
3. The medicine provides 12 hours of pain relief.
4. I feel a dull pain if I touch the bruise.
5. the pain of a difficult childhood
6. It is a story about the joys and pains of life.
7. Rush hour traffic is such a pain.
8. This orange is a pain to peel.

Origin of PAIN

Middle English, from Anglo-French peine, from Latin poena, from Greek poinē payment, penalty; akin to Greek tinein to pay, tinesthai to punish, Avestan kaēnā revenge, Sanskrit cayate he revenges

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to PAIN

Synonyms: ache, pang, prick, shoot, smart, sting, stitch, throe, tingle, twinge

Antonyms: heedlessness, inattentiveness, negligence

Related Words: discomfort, distress, soreness, tenderness; affliction, agony, anguish, misery, sufferance, suffering, torment, torture; inflammation, sore, swelling; damage, detriment, harm, hurt, injury; backache, bellyache, charley horse, colic, complaint, earache, gripe, headache, stomachache, toothache

Near Antonyms: comfort, ease, easiness

see all synonyms and antonyms

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