SPRAIN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does sprain mean? 

• SPRAIN (noun)
  The noun SPRAIN has 1 sense:

1. a painful injury to a joint caused by a sudden wrenching of its ligaments

  Familiarity information: SPRAIN used as a noun is very rare.

• SPRAIN (verb)
  The verb SPRAIN has 1 sense:

1. twist suddenly so as to sprain

  Familiarity information: SPRAIN used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SPRAIN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A painful injury to a joint caused by a sudden wrenching of its ligaments

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("sprain" is a kind of...):

pull; twist; wrench (a sharp strain on muscles or ligaments)

Derivation:

sprain (twist suddenly so as to sprain)

• SPRAIN (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they sprain    ... he / she / it sprains   
Past simple: sprained   
Past participle: sprained   
-ing form: spraining   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Twist suddenly so as to sprain

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

rick; sprain; turn; twist; wrench; wrick

Context example:

I turned my ankle and couldn't walk for several days

Hypernyms (to "sprain" is one way to...):

injure; wound (cause injuries or bodily harm to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

Did he sprain his foot?

Derivation:

sprain (a painful injury to a joint caused by a sudden wrenching of its ligaments)

 Context examples 

I have to thank her for this sprain.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Whiplash, a soft tissue injury to the neck, is also called neck sprain or strain.

(Neck Injuries and Disorders, NIH)

Oh that he had sprained his ankle in the first dance!

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

When we were left alone in the stone-flagged kitchen, it was astonishing how rapidly that sprained ankle recovered.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The most common ankle problems are sprains and fractures.

(Ankle Injuries and Disorders, NIH)

Then he called out: I say, Bill, I've sprained my ankle.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Her imagination was busy, her reflections were pleasant, and the pain of a sprained ankle was disregarded.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Common leg injuries include sprains and strains, joint dislocations, and fractures.

(Leg Injuries and Disorders, NIH)

Other causes of elbow pain include sprains, strains, fractures, dislocations, bursitis and arthritis.

(Elbow Injuries and Disorders, NIH)

These problems can include: • Cuts, broken bones, sprains, and strains • Loss of limbs • Repetitive motion disorders • Hearing problems caused by exposure to noise • Vision problems • Illness caused by breathing, touching, or swallowing unsafe substances • Illness caused by exposure to radiation • Exposure to germs in health care settings

(Occupational Health, NIH)