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Definition of convulse verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

convulse

verb
 
/kənˈvʌls/
 
/kənˈvʌls/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they convulse
 
/kənˈvʌls/
 
/kənˈvʌls/
he / she / it convulses
 
/kənˈvʌlsɪz/
 
/kənˈvʌlsɪz/
past simple convulsed
 
/kənˈvʌlst/
 
/kənˈvʌlst/
past participle convulsed
 
/kənˈvʌlst/
 
/kənˈvʌlst/
-ing form convulsing
 
/kənˈvʌlsɪŋ/
 
/kənˈvʌlsɪŋ/
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  1. [transitive, intransitive] convulse (somebody) (with something) (rather formal) to cause a sudden shaking movement in somebody’s body; to make this movement
    • A violent shiver convulsed him.
    • His whole body convulsed.
  2. [transitive] be convulsed with laughter, anger, etc. to be laughing so much, so angry, etc. that you cannot control your movements
    • She rocked back and forth, convulsed with helpless laughter.
  3. Word Originmid 17th cent.: from Latin convuls- ‘pulled violently, wrenched’, from the verb convellere, from con- ‘together’ + vellere ‘to pull’.
See convulse in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
previously
adverb
 
 
From the Word list
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