spasmodic
Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Related to spasmodic: Spasmodic croup, Spasmodic torticollis
spas·mod·ic
(spăz-mŏd′ĭk)adj.
1. Relating to, affected by, or having the character of a spasm; convulsive.
2. Happening intermittently; fitful: spasmodic rifle fire.
3. Given to sudden outbursts of energy or feeling; excitable.
[New Latin spasmōdicus, from Greek spasmōdēs, from spasmos, spasm; see spasm.]
spas·mod′i·cal·ly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
spasmodic
(spæzˈmɒdɪk) or rarelyspasmodical
adj
1. taking place in sudden brief spells
2. (Pathology) of or characterized by spasms
[C17: New Latin, from Greek spasmos a spasm]
spasˈmodically adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
spas•mod•ic
(spæzˈmɒd ɪk)also spas•mod′i•cal,
adj.
1. pertaining to or of the nature of a spasm; characterized by spasms.
2. resembling a spasm; sudden but brief; sporadic: spasmodic efforts at reform.
3. given to or characterized by bursts of excitement.
[1675–85; < Medieval Latin spasmodicus < Greek spasmṓd(ēs) spasmodic (derivative of spasmós spasm; see -ode1) + Latin -icus -ic]
spas•mod′i•cal•ly, adv.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Adj. | 1. | spasmodic - affected by involuntary jerky muscular contractions; resembling a spasm; "convulsive motions"; "his body made a spasmodic jerk"; "spastic movements" unsteady - subject to change or variation; "her unsteady walk"; "his hand was unsteady as he poured the wine"; "an unsteady voice" |
2. | spasmodic - occurring in spells and often abruptly; "fitful bursts of energy"; "spasmodic rifle fire" sporadic - recurring in scattered and irregular or unpredictable instances; "a city subjected to sporadic bombing raids" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
spasmodic
adjective sporadic, irregular, erratic, intermittent, jerky, fitful, convulsive My husband's work was so spasmodic.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Translations
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
spasmodic
adj (Med) → krampfartig, spasmisch, spasmodisch (spec); (fig: = occasional) → sporadisch; growth → schubweise; his generosity was spasmodic → er hatte Phasen or Anfälle von Großzügigkeit
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
spasmodic
[spæzˈmɒdɪk] adj (Med) → spasmodico/a (fig) (growth) → irregolareshe made spasmodic attempts to give up smoking → ha tentato più volte di smettere di fumare
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
spasmodic
adj espasmódicoEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.