pain definition - Dictionary

Dictionary

pain [ payn ]

noun (plural pains)

Definition:

1. unpleasant physical sensation: the acutely unpleasant physical discomfort experienced by somebody who is violently struck, injured, or ill

cried out in pain

2. feeling of discomfort: a sensation of pain in a particular part of the body ( often used in the plural )

was complaining of pains in the lower abdomen

back pain

3. emotional distress: severe emotional or mental distress

the pain of rejection

4. somebody or something troublesome: somebody or something that is extremely annoying or causes many problems ( informal )

plural noun pains

Definition:

1. trouble taken to do something: conscientious effort or trouble taken, usually in tackling a piece of work

2. labor pains: the painful spasms experienced by a woman during childbirth, caused by the contraction of the uterus

verb (past and past participle pained, present participle pain·ing, 3rd person present singular pains)

Definition:

1. transitive verb sadden somebody: to make somebody feel saddened or distressed

It pains me to hear you speak like that.

2. transitive and intransitive verb cause or feel pain: to cause physical pain to somebody, or experience pain

[13th century. Via French< Latin poena "penalty, punishment" < Greek poinē "penalty"]

a pain in the ass or butt an offensive term for somebody or something that is considered to be extremely annoying or troublesome (slang)

a pain in the neck somebody or something that is considered extremely annoying or troublesome (informal)

feel no pain to be very drunk (informal)

on or under pain of something risking or threatened with something such as death or instant dismissal as punishment

Spelling Note


	pain or pane? Do not confuse the spelling of pain and pane, which sound similar. Pain is a noun and verb referring to an unpleasant physical sensation, emotional distress, or trouble, as in a pain in my knee, if it pains you to see them suffer, taking great pains not to offend anybody. Pane is a noun denoting a piece of glass in a window.