cramp

cramp¹ [kræmp] n

[Date: 1300-1400; : Old French; Origin: crampe, perhaps from Low German krampe; CRAMP²]

1.) [U and C]

a severe pain that you get in part of your body when a muscle becomes too tight, making it difficult for you to move that part of your body

▪ Several players were suffering from cramp.

▪ muscle cramps

have/get (a) cramp

▪ One of the swimmers got cramp and had to drop out of the race.

→↑writer's cramp

2.) (stomach) cramps [plural]

severe pains in the stomach, especially the ones that women get when they ↑menstruate

cramp ²

cramp² v

[Date: 1500-1600; Origin: Partly from CRAMP¹; partly from cramp 'tool for holding things together' (14-21 centuries), from Low German krampe 'hook']

1.) [T]

to prevent the development of someone or something

= ↑hinder, restrict ↑restrict

▪ Stricter anti-pollution laws may cramp economic growth.

2.) cramp sb's style informal

to prevent someone from behaving in the way they want to

▪ Paul said he didn't want Sarah to come along because she cramps his style.

3.) [I and T] also cramp up

to get or cause cramp in a muscle

▪ He cramped in the last 200 metres of the race.

▪ Sitting still for so long had cramped her muscles.