Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Suffering from or relating to colic: Characterized by or causing severe, intermittent pain in the abdomen, often due to gas or obstruction in the intestines.
   • Resembling or symptomatic of colic: Describes pain, crying, or discomfort that is sharp, fluctuating, and cramp-like, typically associated with infants.

Usage

• The primary use of "colicky" is as a descriptive adjective. It modifies nouns to indicate a state of suffering from colic or having the qualities of colic.
• It is most commonly used in medical or parental contexts to describe a baby's condition or a type of pain.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • The pediatrician reassured the parents that their colicky infant was otherwise healthy.
  • She experienced sharp, colicky pains that would come and go.
  • Caring for a colicky baby can be very challenging for new parents.

Advanced Usage

• "to be colicky": This phrase describes the state of having colic.
  • The baby has been colicky every evening this week.
• Used figuratively to describe something characterized by intermittent distress or fussiness (though this is less common).
  • The colicky engine finally stalled on the highway.

Variants and Related Words

• Colic (n): The condition itself, involving severe abdominal pain.
  • Infant colic is often defined by prolonged periods of crying.
• Colic root (n): A common name for certain plants historically used to treat colic.

Synonyms

• Gassy: Suffering from excessive gas. (More informal, often specific to the cause.)
• Crampy: Characterized by cramps. (Describes a similar pain sensation.)
• Irritable: Easily annoyed or, in a medical sense, showing discomfort. (Broader term.)

Antonyms

• Comfortable: At ease; free from pain.
• Settled: Calm and quiet, especially describing a baby's state.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• Colicky pain: A standard medical phrase describing the specific type of intermittent, cramping abdominal pain.
  • The patient presented with symptoms of colicky pain in the lower abdomen.

Adjective

1. suffering from excessive gas in the alimentary canal