Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

cramp

/kɹæmp/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.04 in modern English

Syllables
cramp
IPA
/kɹæmp/
11
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
1
Syllables
5
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A painful contraction of a muscle which cannot be controlled; (sometimes) a similar pain even without noticeable contraction.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

That which confines or contracts.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

A clamp for carpentry or masonry.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

A piece of wood having a curve corresponding to that of the upper part of the instep, on which the upper leather of a boot is stretched to give it the requisite shape.

Countable; Uncountable

verb

(of a muscle) To contract painfully and uncontrollably.

Intransitive verb

verb

To affect with cramps or spasms.

Transitive verb

verb

To prohibit movement or expression of.

Transitive verb

verb

To restrain to a specific physical position, as if with a cramp.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *krampôder. Frankish *krampōder. Proto-Germanic *krampôder. Middle Dutch crampeder. Old French crampebor. Middle English crampe English cramp From Middle English crampe, from Old French crampe (“cramp”), from Frankish *krampa (“cramp”), from Proto-West Germanic *krampu, from Proto-Germanic *krampō (“cramp, clasp”). Distant relative of English crop.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: crampe, *krampa, *krampu, *krampō

Usage

Inflected Forms

cramps (plural) cramps (present, singular) cramping (participle, present) cramped (participle, past) cramped (past) more cramp (comparative) most cramp (superlative)

Derived Forms

crampbark crampet crampfish crampish crampy uncramp crampingly

Phrases

bather's cramp brain cramp cramp ball cramp bone cramp fasciculation syndrome cramp iron cramp ring menstrual cramp

Frequently Paired Words

twinge

Synonyms

restraint shackle hindrance cramp iron spasm muscle spasm hamper halter strangle

Rhymes With

camp stamp lamp champ ramp amp damp clamp tramp revamp vamp kamp

Questions

How do you pronounce cramp?
The recorded pronunciation is /kɹæmp/.
What does cramp mean?
A painful contraction of a muscle which cannot be controlled; (sometimes) a similar pain even without noticeable contraction.
Where does cramp come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce cramp

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “cramp”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/kɹæmp/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “cramp”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “cramp” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.