Definition of convulse Convulse

con•vulse

We found 12 definitions of convulse from 5 different sources.

What does convulse mean?

Verb convulses, convulsing, convulsed
convulse - move or stir about violently; "The feverish patient thrashed around in his bed"
		thresh, thresh about, thrash, thrash about, slash, toss, jactitate
		agitate, shake change the arrangement or position of
		whip strike as if by whipping; "The curtain whipped her face"
convulse - make someone convulse with laughter; "The comedian convulsed the crowd"
		convulse be overcome with laughter
		amuse make (somebody) laugh; "The clown amused the children"
convulse - contract involuntarily, as in a spasm; "The muscles in her face convulsed"
		compress, constrict, compact, contract, squeeze, press squeeze or press together; "she compressed her lips"; "the spasm contracted the muscle"
convulse - cause to contract; "The spasm convulses her facial muscles"
		compress, constrict, compact, contract, squeeze, press squeeze or press together; "she compressed her lips"; "the spasm contracted the muscle"
convulse - be overcome with laughter
		express joy, express mirth, laugh produce laughter
convulse - shake uncontrollably; "earthquakes convulsed the countryside"
		agitate, shake change the arrangement or position of

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convulse (v. t.)
To contract violently and irregulary, as the muscular parts of an animal body; to shake with irregular spasms, as in excessive laughter, or in agony from grief or pain.
convulse (v. t.)
To agitate greatly; to shake violently.

convulse
kon-vuls′, v.t. to agitate violently: to affect by spasms.—adj. Convul′sible, subject to convulsion.—n. Convul′sion, any involuntary contraction of the voluntary muscles of the body, esp. such seizures in which the body is thrown into violent spasmodic contractions, the sensibility and voluntary motion being for a time suspended: any violent disturbance.—adjs. Convul′sional, Convul′sionary, pertaining to convulsions.—n.pl. Convul′sionaries, a fanatical sect of Jansenists who sprang up in France about 1730.—adj. Convuls′ive, attended with convulsions: spasmodic.—adv. Convuls′ively.—n. Convuls′iveness. [L. con, inten., and vellĕre, vulsum, to pluck, to pull.]