con·vulse 
/kənˈvʌls/ verb
con·vuls·es; con·vulsed; con·vuls·ing /kənˈvʌls/ verb 1 a [no obj] medical : to have an experience in which the muscles in your body shake in a sudden violent way that you are not able to control : to experience convulsions
▪ The patient reacted to the medication and began convulsing.
b — used when something (such as laughter) causes a person's whole body to shake [no obj] ▪ The audience convulsed [=shook] with/in laughter. [+ obj] — usually used as (be) convulsed ▪ The audience was convulsed with/by laughter. 2 [+ obj] formal : to affect (someone or something) suddenly and violently
▪ The country was convulsed by war. ▪ Riots convulsed the nation.
▪ The patient reacted to the medication and began convulsing.
b — used when something (such as laughter) causes a person's whole body to shake [no obj] ▪ The audience convulsed [=shook] with/in laughter. [+ obj] — usually used as (be) convulsed ▪ The audience was convulsed with/by laughter.
▪ The country was convulsed by war. ▪ Riots convulsed the nation.
