(使)抽搐;痉挛;(因强烈情绪如大笑、哭泣而)剧烈颤动、抖动。常用搭配:convulse with laughter(笑得直抽)。
/kənˈvʌls/
His legs began to convulse uncontrollably.
他的双腿开始不受控制地抽搐。
The room seemed to convulse with laughter when she told the story, and even the teacher struggled to keep a straight face.
她讲完那个故事后,整个房间仿佛都在笑得直抽搐,连老师也很难绷住不笑。
来自拉丁语 convellere,意为“猛烈拉扯、扯动”(con- “一起、完全” + vellere “拉、扯”)。后来词义发展为“身体被强烈牵动般地抽搐”,也可引申到“因情绪而剧烈颤动”。