Sprained
[spreɪnd]
Definitions
2 meaningsTo cause a sudden and painful injury to a joint, such as the ankle or wrist, by twisting or wrenching it.
[spreɪnd]
To injure a joint by a sudden twisting or wrenching movement.
He sprained his knee playing basketball.
💡 Simply: Imagine you twist your ankle the wrong way, like when you accidentally step off a curb funny. That's a sprain! It hurts because the ligaments holding your bones together got stretched or torn a little.
👶 For kids: When you hurt a part of your body where your bones meet, like your ankle or wrist, by twisting it too hard.
More Examples
She thinks she sprained her wrist when she fell on the ice.
The doctor confirmed that the runner had sprained their ankle.
How It's Used
"The athlete sprained his ankle during the game."
"She sprained her wrist when she fell on the ice."
Describing a joint that has been injured by a sprain.
[spreɪnd]
Having sustained a sprain; injured.
He had a sprained ankle and couldn't play in the game.
💡 Simply: If you have a sprained ankle, that means your ankle is hurt from the twisting. So 'sprained' just describes the hurt part.
👶 For kids: When a part of your body is hurt because it was twisted the wrong way, like your ankle or wrist.
More Examples
She wore a brace on her sprained wrist.
The doctor said her ankle was quite sprained.
How It's Used
"The patient had a sprained ankle."
"She walked with a limp due to her sprained wrist."
From Middle English *spreynten*, *spreynged*, past participle of *spreyngen* 'to stretch, strain', ultimately from Old English *sprengan* 'to spring, burst'.
The word 'sprain' and its past tense form 'sprained' have existed for centuries, referring to the twisting or wrenching of a joint and resulting injury.
Memory tip
Think of 'springing' a joint in the wrong direction.