Word: Sprain
Part of Speech: - Noun - Verb
Definition: - As a noun, a "sprain" is a painful injury that happens to a joint in your body. It occurs when the ligaments (the tough bands that connect bones at a joint) are suddenly twisted or stretched too much. - As a verb, "to sprain" means to twist or injure a joint, often causing pain and swelling.
Usage Instructions: - Use "sprain" as a noun when talking about the injury itself: "I have a sprain in my ankle." - Use "sprain" as a verb when describing the action of injuring the joint: "I sprained my ankle while playing basketball."
Examples: - Noun: "She has a sprain in her wrist after falling off her bike." - Verb: "He sprained his knee during the soccer game."
Advanced Usage: - In medical contexts, you might hear phrases like "grade I sprain" (a mild injury) or "grade III sprain" (a severe injury with a complete tear of the ligaments).
Word Variants: - "Sprained" (past tense): "I sprained my ankle yesterday." - "Spraining" (present participle): "Be careful; you might be spraining your wrist with those movements."
Different Meaning: - The word "sprain" is primarily used in the context of injuries. There is no significant different meaning outside of this context.
Synonyms: - Twist - Wrench - Injury (in context)
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs: - There aren’t many idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "sprain," but you might hear expressions like "take it easy" after someone has sprained an ankle, meaning to rest and not put too much pressure on the injured area.
Summary: A "sprain" is a painful injury to a joint caused by twisting or stretching the ligaments too much. It can happen suddenly, like while playing sports or during a fall.