convulsion
/kənˈvʌlʃən/noun
(常作 convulsions)
1- a sudden, violent, irregular movement of a limb or limbs or the body, caused by involuntary contraction of muscles and associated especially with brain disorders such as epilepsy, the presence of certain toxins or other agents in the blood, or fever in children惊厥; 抽搐。
1.1
convulsions
uncontrollable laughter狂笑, 大笑：the audience collapsed in convulsions.
观众捧腹大笑。
1.2
- an earthquake or other violent or major movement of the earth's crust地震; 地壳的剧烈运动：
the violent convulsions of tectonic plates.
地壳构造板块的剧烈运动。
1.3
- figurative a violent social or political upheaval〈喻〉社会（或政治）的剧烈动荡; 动乱：
the convulsions of 1939-45.
1939-1945年的社会动乱。
词源
mid 16th cent. （originally in the sense 'cramp, spasm'）： from Latin convulsio（n-）, from the verb convellere （see CONVULSE）.