Sprain definition

Sprain

Topics Sprain Definition

WordNet

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

(2) Twist suddenly so as to sprain

"Wrench one's ankle"

"The wrestler twisted his shoulder"

"The hikers sprained their ankles when they fell"

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

WiktionaryText

1601, verb attested 1622. Possibly from , from , in which case cognate to .

The act or result of spraining; lameness caused by spraining; as, a bad sprain of the wrist.

To weaken, as a joint, ligament, or muscle, by sudden and excessive exertion, as by wrenching; to overstrain, or stretch injuriously, but without luxation; as, to sprain one's ankle.