sprain

USSPRAYN/spɹeɪn/

Verbsprains, spraining, sprained

2 meanings of sprain

1
nouncountable
An injury that happens when you twist or stretch a joint too far.
Like a rubber band that gets stretched too far and hurts to use.
She came back from the hike with a painful ankle sprain.
Ice and rest help a sprain heal faster.
Similarstrain
Note
2
verbtransitive
To hurt a joint by twisting or stretching it too hard, without moving the bones out of place.
Like bending a wire too far so it stays sore but doesn't snap.
Be careful not to sprain your ankle on the rocks.
She sprained her wrist when she fell off her bike.
Similartwist, wrench
Note

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Origin

First used around 1601. It may come from Middle French espraindre, meaning 'to press out' or 'to wring'.