colic

B2 Topic:General Vocabulary

US /ˈkɑlɪk/ UK /ˈkɒlɪk/ See IPA manual

Freq #31535

Meanings

1

noun
severe, often spasmodic pain in the abdomen, especially pain arising from the intestines

The patient was admitted with waves of colic and abdominal tenderness.
2

noun
a condition in which an otherwise healthy infant cries intensely and repeatedly for long periods

Their baby's colic was usually worst during the early evening.
3

noun
acute abdominal pain in a horse or another animal, often treated as a veterinary emergency

The mare showed signs of colic and the stable called a veterinarian immediately.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · severe, often spasmodic... abdominal crampsgripingintestinal colic

2 noun · a condition in which an... infant colicpersistent crying

3 noun · acute abdominal pain in a... equine colicabdominal pain

Word family

Derived forms colicky

Related forms colon cramp indigestiongastrointestinal

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

intestinal colic
cramping pain arising in the intestines

Adjective + noun

Etymology

Through French colique and Late Latin colica from Greek kolikos, 'suffering in the colon,' based on kolon, 'large intestine.' The name broadened from intestinal pain to characteristic syndromes in infants and animals.

Topics

General Vocabulary

External links

# colic

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈkɑlɪk/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈkɒlɪk/
**Frequency rank:** 31535

## Meanings
1. severe, often spasmodic pain in the abdomen, especially pain arising from the intestines
2. a condition in which an otherwise healthy infant cries intensely and repeatedly for long periods
3. acute abdominal pain in a horse or another animal, often treated as a veterinary emergency

## Examples
- The patient was admitted with waves of colic and abdominal tenderness.
- Their baby's colic was usually worst during the early evening.
- The mare showed signs of colic and the stable called a veterinarian immediately.

## Synonyms
- abdominal cramps
- griping
- intestinal colic
- infant colic
- equine colic

## Derived Forms
- colicky

## Related Forms
- colon
- cramp
- indigestion
- gastrointestinal

## Etymology
Through French colique and Late Latin colica from Greek kolikos, 'suffering in the colon,' based on kolon, 'large intestine.' The name broadened from intestinal pain to characteristic syndromes in infants and animals.

## Topics
- General Vocabulary

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