pain

Universal Words noun, verb noun-see also PAINS 1 [U,C] the feelings that you have in your body when you have been hurt or when you are ill: a cry of pain * She was clearly in a lot of pain. * He felt a sharp pain in his knee. * patients suffering from acute back pain * stomach / chest pains * You get more aches and pains as you get older. * The booklet contains information on pain relief during labour. * This cream should help to relieve the pain. seealsoGROWINGPAINS 2 [U,C] mental or emotional suffering: the pain of separation / loss * I never meant to cause her pain. * the pleasures and pains of growing old * a life full of pain and suffering 3 [C] (informal) a person or thing that is very annoying: She can be a real pain when she's in a bad mood. * It's a pain having to go all that way for just one meeting. IDIOMS on / under pain of sth (formal) with the threat of having sth done to you as a punishment if you do not obey: They were required to cut pollution levels, on pain of a ｣10 000 fine if they disobeyed. a pain in the neck (BrE also a pain in the arse / backside) (AmE also a pain in the ass / butt) (informal) a person or thing that is very annoying verb (not used in the progressive tenses) (formal) to cause sb pain or make them unhappy SYNHURT: [VN] She was deeply pained by the accusation. * (old use) The wound still pained him occasionally. * [VNtoinf] It pains me to see you like this. [also VNthat]