emotional distress; a fundamental feeling that people try to avoid
"the pain of loneliness"
a somatic sensation of acute discomfort
"as the intensity increased the sensation changed from tickle to pain"
something or someone that causes trouble; a source of unhappiness
"washing dishes was a nuisance before we got a dish washer"
"a bit of a bother"
"he's not a friend, he's an infliction"
An ache or bodily suffering, or an instance of this; an unpleasant sensation, resulting from a derangement of functions, disease, or injury by violence; hurt.
"The researcher added a note to the lab report, warning that any new chemical screened must be checked for potential pain activity before proceeding with further testing."
Any of various breads stuffed with a filling.
Acronym of pan-assay interference compound.
In plain English: Pain is an unpleasant feeling that tells your body something is wrong or hurting.
"She took an aspirin to help with her stomach pain."
Usage: Use "pain" to describe physical suffering or emotional distress, not as an acronym for pan-assay interference compounds. Reserve the scientific abbreviation PAINS specifically for chemical research contexts involving assay interference.
To hurt; to put to bodily uneasiness or anguish; to afflict with uneasy sensations of any degree of intensity; to torment; to torture.
"The sharp pain in his side made it impossible for him to take another deep breath after the fall."
In plain English: To feel physical hurt or discomfort from an injury or illness.
"Please don't hurt me in that way."
Usage: Use "pain" as a transitive verb when describing the act of causing someone physical suffering, such as in the phrase "the rough surface pained his skin." It is incorrect to use it for feeling pain yourself, which requires using it as a noun or saying "I am in pain."
A surname.
"The local bakery is owned by a Mr. Pain, who always greets customers with a warm smile despite his stern reputation in town."
The word "pain" entered English from the Old French and Anglo-Norman peine, which originally meant punishment or penalty rather than physical suffering. Its ultimate roots lie in Ancient Greek terms for bloodmoney or fines, reflecting a historical connection between payment and retribution.