pain

Definitions

1. noun

   An unpleasant feeling in the body when you are hurt or ill.

   Examples

   • Doctors find it hard to treat chronic pain.
   • I had to stop running because of pains in my feet.
   ≠pleasure≠beatitude≠bliss≠delectation≠delight +8 more
2. noun

   The strong aches a woman feels when she is giving birth.

   Examples

   • She was rushed to the hospital when her pains began.
   • The midwife timed her pains carefully.
   ≠pleasure≠beatitude≠bliss≠delectation≠delight +8 more
3. noun

   Deep sadness or mental suffering.

   Examples

   • Pain is a fact of life.
   • The pain of saying goodbye was hard to bear.
   ≈anguish≈anguish≈rend≈difficulty≈distress +7 more
4. noun

   In informal speech, an annoying person or thing.

   Examples

   • Your brother is a real pain.
   • Missing the last train again is a real pain.
   ≈pest≈annoyance≈bother≈faff≈grievance +9 more
5. noun

   In old-fashioned use, a punishment for breaking a rule.

   Examples

   • You may not leave this room on pain of death.
   • The law set a pain of a heavy fine.
6. noun

   Great care or effort taken to do something.

   Examples

   • He took great pains to get every detail right.
   • She spared no pains in preparing the meal.
   ≈effort≈exertion≈pains≈wark≈work
7. verb

   To cause physical hurt.

   Examples

   • The wound pained him whenever he walked.
   • Her old injury still pains her in cold weather.
   ≈afflict≈hurt≈ache≈afflict≈aggrieve +13 more
8. verb

   To make someone feel sad or upset.

   Examples

   • It pains me to see you so upset.
   • Her harsh words pained him deeply.
   ≈afflict≈torment≈afflict≈aggrieve≈plague +13 more
9. verb

   In old-fashioned use, to punish someone.

   Examples

   • The law pained offenders with heavy fines.
   • The court pained the guilty party severely.
10. verb

    To hurt or feel painful.

    Examples

    • My back has been paining me all week.
    • His knee pains whenever it rains.