Definition of: pain

(pān) noun
1. The sensation or feeling resulting from or accompanying some injury, derangement, overstrain, or obstruction of the physical powers; any distressing or afflicting emotion, or such emotions in general; grief: opposite of pleasure.
2. plural Care, trouble, effort, or exertion expended on anything: used often as singular: with much pains.
3. plural The pangs of childbirth.
—on (or upon or under) pain of With the penalty of (some specified punishment).
—to take pains To be careful; to make an effort.
—v.t. To cause pain to; hurt or grieve; disquiet.
—v.i. To cause pain. See synonyms under HURT, PIQUE. ♦ Homophone: pane. [<OF peine <L poena <Gk. poinē a penalty] Synonyms (noun): ache, affliction, agony, anguish, discomfort, distress, misery, pang, paroxysm, suffering, throe, torment, torture, trouble, twinge, uneasiness, woe, wretchedness. Pain is the most general term of this group, including all the others; pain is a disturbing sensation from which nature revolts, resulting from some injurious external interference (as from a wound, a bruise, a harsh word, etc.), or from some lack of what one needs, craves, or cherishes (as, the pain of hunger or bereavement), or from some abnormal action of bodily or mental functions (as, the pains of disease, envy, or discontent). Ache is lingering pain, more or less severe; pang, a pain short, sharp, intense, and perhaps repeated. We speak of the pangs of hunger or of remorse. Throe is a violent pain. Paroxysm applies to the alternately recurring and receding pain, which comes as though in waves; the paroxysm is the rising of the wave. Torment and torture are intense and terrible sufferings. Compare ADVERSITY, AFFLICTION, AGONY, INJURY, SUFFERING. Antonyms: comfort, delight, ease, enjoyment, peace, rapture, relief, solace.