/'spæææzəm; `spæzəm/
n [C, U]
1 strong, sudden and uncontrollable tightening of a muscle or muscles 痉挛; 抽搐; 发作
*an asthma spasm 气喘发作
* painful muscular spasms 引起疼痛的痉挛
* The muscles in the athlete's leg went into spasm, ie tightened uncontrollably and painfully. 那运动员的腿抽筋了.
2 sudden short burst (of activity, emotion, etc) （活动、情感等的）突发, 发作
*a spasm of energy, excitement, pain, coughing 一阵活力的爆发、兴奋、疼痛、咳嗽.

n
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French;Origin: spasme, from Latin, from Greek spasmos, from span 'to pull']
[U and C]
an occasion when your muscles suddenly become tight, causing you pain
　Maggie felt a muscle spasm in her back.
　Tom's jaw muscles had gone into spasm .
back/shoulder/throat etc spasm
spasm of grief/laughter/coughing etc
a sudden strong feeling or reaction that you have for a short period of time
　I felt a spasm of fear.