Definition: sprain

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

sprain
     n : a painful injury to a joint caused by a sudden wrenching of
         its ligaments
     v : twist suddenly so as to sprain; "wrench one's ankle"; "The
         wrestler twisted his shoulder"; "the hikers sprained
         their ankles when they fell"; "I turned my ankle and
         couldn't walk for several days" [syn: twist, wrench,
         turn, wrick, rick]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Sprain \Sprain\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sprained; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Spraining.] [OF. espreindreto press, to force out, F.
   ['e]preindre, fr. L. exprimere. See Express, v. t., and cf.
   Spraints.]
   To weaken, as a joint, ligament, or muscle, by sudden and
   excessive exertion, as by wrenching; to overstrain, or
   stretch injuriously, but without luxation; as, to sprain
   one's ankle.
Sprain \Sprain\, n.
   The act or result of spraining; lameness caused by spraining;
   as, a bad sprain of the wrist.

   Sprain fracture (Med.), the separation of a tendon from its
      point of insertion, with the detachment of a shell of bone
      to which the tendon is attached.