1 pain
Pronounced:
/ˈpeɪn/
Function:
nounInflected forms:
plural painsMeaning:
1 : the physical feeling caused by disease, injury, or something that hurts the body [noncount] ▪ The medication may upset your stomach but if you experience acute abdominal pain call your doctor. ▪ I've had chronic back pain since the accident. ▪ It was obvious that she was in pain. [=feeling pain] ▪ Each patient has a different pain threshold. [=ability to tolerate pain] ▪ The medicine provides 12 hours of pain relief. ▪ For a week after surgery she took prescription pain medication/relievers. [=painkillers] [count] ▪ I feel a dull/sharp pain if I touch the bruise. —see also aches and pains at 2ache
2 : mental or emotional suffering : sadness caused by some emotional or mental problem [noncount] ▪ They didn't want to cause him pain. [=they didn't want to upset or hurt him] ▪ the pain of a difficult childhood [count] ▪ It is a story about the joys and pains of life. —see also growing pains
3 [singular] informal : someone or something that causes trouble or makes you feel annoyed or angry ▪ Rush hour traffic is such a pain. ▪ This orange is a pain to peel. ▪ Our neighbor can be such a pain. [=nuisance] —often used in phrases like pain in the neck or (impolite) pain in the ass ▪ My little sister can be a (real/royal) pain in the neck.
2 : mental or emotional suffering : sadness caused by some emotional or mental problem [noncount] ▪ They didn't want to cause him pain. [=they didn't want to upset or hurt him] ▪ the pain of a difficult childhood [count] ▪ It is a story about the joys and pains of life. —see also growing pains
3 [singular] informal : someone or something that causes trouble or makes you feel annoyed or angry ▪ Rush hour traffic is such a pain. ▪ This orange is a pain to peel. ▪ Our neighbor can be such a pain. [=nuisance] —often used in phrases like pain in the neck or (impolite) pain in the ass ▪ My little sister can be a (real/royal) pain in the neck.
be at pains
: to try hard to do something ▪ They were at pains to distance themselves from the scandal.
feel no pain —see 1feel
go to great pains or take (great) pains
: to be careful in doing something : to try hard to do something —followed by to + verb ▪ We went to great pains not to offend anyone. ▪ He took great pains to explain the situation to us.
no gain without pain —see 2gain
no pain, no gain —see 2gain
on/under pain of
formal : at the risk of being given (a particular form of punishment) ▪ She was ordered to remain silent under pain of imprisonment. ▪ He cannot return to the country on pain of death. [=he will be killed if he returns to the country]