spasm
/ˈspæææzəm; `spæzəm/ n[C, U]
1 strong, sudden and uncontrollable tightening of a muscle or muscles 痉挛; 抽搐; 发作
an asthma spasm 气喘发作
painful muscular spasms 引起疼痛的痉挛
The muscles in the athlete's leg went into spasm, ie tightened uncontrollably and painfully. 那运动员的腿抽筋了.
2 sudden short burst (of activity, emotion, etc) （活动、 情感等的）突发, 发作
a spasm of energy, excitement, pain, coughing 一阵活力的爆发、 兴奋、 疼痛、 咳嗽.