pain
(pān)
[Middle English, from Old French peine, from Latin poena, penalty, pain, from Greek poinē, penalty.]
noun
- An unpleasant sensation occurring in varying degrees of severity as a consequence of injury, disease, or emotional disorder.
- Suffering or distress.
- The pangs of childbirth.
- Great care or effort: take pains with one's work.
- Informal A source of annoyance; a nuisance.
verb: pained, pain·ing, pains.
transitive verb
- To cause pain to; hurt or injure.
intransitive verb
- To be the cause of pain.
idioms
- on pain of
- Subject to the penalty of (a specified punishment, such as death).
synonyms:
pain, ache, pang, smart, stitch, throe, twinge These nouns denote a sensation of severe physical discomfort: abdominal pain; aches in my leg; the pangs of a cramped muscle; aspirin that alleviated the smart; a stitch in my side; the throes of dying; a twinge of arthritis.
