convulsion (n.)

  1. a sudden uncontrollable attack; a paroxysm of giggling; a fit of coughing; convulsions of laughter

    [ Syn: paroxysm , fit ]

  2. violent uncontrollable contractions of muscles

  3. a violent disturbance; the convulsions of the stock market

    [ Syn: turmoil , upheaval ]

  4. a physical disturbance such as an earthquake or upheaval

The dictionary is based on the WordNet Electronic Lexical Database.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2011 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.