Search Result for "convulse": 
Wordnet 3.0

VERB (6)

1. make someone convulse with laughter;
- Example: "The comedian convulsed the crowd"

2. be overcome with laughter;

3. move or stir about violently;
- Example: "The feverish patient thrashed around in his bed"
[syn: convulse, thresh, thresh about, thrash, thrash about, slash, toss, jactitate]

4. shake uncontrollably;
- Example: "earthquakes convulsed the countryside"

5. cause to contract;
- Example: "The spasm convulses her facial muscles"

6. contract involuntarily, as in a spasm;
- Example: "The muscles in her face convulsed"



The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Convulse \Con*vulse"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Convulsed; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Convulsing.] [L. convulsus, p. p. of convellere to
   tear up, to shake; con- + vellere to pluck, pull.]
   1. To contract violently and irregulary, as the muscular
      parts of an animal body; to shake with irregular spasms,
      as in excessive laughter, or in agony from grief or pain.
      [1913 Webster]

            With emotions which checked his voice and convulsed
            his powerful frame.                   --Macaulay.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To agitate greatly; to shake violently.
      [1913 Webster]

            The world is convulsed by the agonies of great
            nations.                              --Macaulay.

   Syn: To agitate; disturb; shake; tear; rend.
        [1913 Webster]


WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

convulse
    v 1: make someone convulse with laughter; "The comedian
         convulsed the crowd"
    2: be overcome with laughter
    3: move or stir about violently; "The feverish patient thrashed
       around in his bed" [syn: convulse, thresh, thresh
       about, thrash, thrash about, slash, toss,
       jactitate]
    4: shake uncontrollably; "earthquakes convulsed the countryside"
    5: cause to contract; "The spasm convulses her facial muscles"
    6: contract involuntarily, as in a spasm; "The muscles in her
       face convulsed"