pain
7 ENTRIES FOUND:
plural
pains
plural
pains
Britannica Dictionary definition of PAIN
1
:
the physical feeling caused by disease, injury, or something that hurts the body
—
see also aches and pains at 2ache
[noncount]
-
The medication may upset your stomach but if you experience acute abdominal pain call your doctor.
-
I've had chronic back pain since the accident.
-
It was obvious that she was in pain. [=feeling pain]
-
Each patient has a different pain threshold. [=ability to tolerate pain]
-
The medicine provides 12 hours of pain relief.
-
For a week after surgery she took prescription pain medication/relievers. [=painkillers]
[count]
-
I feel a dull/sharp pain if I touch the bruise.
2
:
mental or emotional suffering
:
sadness caused by some emotional or mental problem
—
see also growing pains
[noncount]
-
They didn't want to cause him pain. [=they didn't want to upset or hurt him]
-
the pain of a difficult childhood
[count]
-
It is a story about the joys and pains of life.
3
[singular]
informal
:
someone or something that causes trouble or makes you feel annoyed or angry
— often used in phrases like pain in the neck or (impolite) pain in the ass
-
Rush hour traffic is such a pain.
-
This orange is a pain to peel.
-
Our neighbor can be such a pain. [=nuisance]
-
My little sister can be a (real/royal) pain in the neck.
be at pains
:
to try hard to do something
-
They were at pains to distance themselves from the scandal.
feel no pain
go to great pains
or take (great) pains
:
to be careful in doing something
:
to try hard to do something
— followed by to + verb
-
We went to great pains not to offend anyone.
-
He took great pains to explain the situation to us.
no gain without pain
no pain, no gain
on/under pain of
formal
:
at the risk of being given (a particular form of punishment)
-
She was ordered to remain silent under pain of imprisonment.
-
He cannot return to the country on pain of death. [=he will be killed if he returns to the country]
2
pain
/ˈpeɪn/
verb
pains;
pained;
paining
2
pain
/ˈpeɪn/
verb
pains;
pained;
paining
Britannica Dictionary definition of PAIN
[+ object]
formal
:
to cause (someone) to feel emotional pain
:
to make (someone) upset, sad, worried, etc.
-
He was deeply pained [=hurt] by your words.
-
As much as it pains me to admit it, she was right.
