concuss
/kən'kʌs/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To injure the brain by causing it to move violently within the skull, typically as a result of a blow to the head; to cause a concussion. This is the primary medical meaning, referring to a traumatic brain injury that temporarily affects brain function.
- To shake violently; to agitate with force. This is a more general, often literary, meaning describing a powerful shaking motion.
Usage
- The verb concuss is a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object (e.g., or ).
- In its medical sense, it is most commonly used in the passive voice (e.g., ) or as a past participle adjective (e.g., ).
- The general sense meaning "to shake violently" is less common in everyday modern English.
Examples
Medical Meaning:
- The boxer was concussed by the powerful punch to his head.
- A fall from the ladder could concuss you.
- The concussed athlete was removed from the game for evaluation.
General Meaning (to shake violently):
- The explosion concussed the air, shattering windows for blocks. (This usage is stylistic and rare in casual speech.)
Advanced Usage
- "to be concussed": This is the standard phrasing to indicate someone has suffered a concussion.
- She was concussed and had no memory of the accident.
- The noun form "concussion" is far more frequently used than the verb "concuss".
- He suffered a concussion. (More common than He was concussed.)
Variants and Related Words
- Concussion (n): The injury itself or the act of violently shaking.
- The patient was diagnosed with a mild concussion.
- Concussive (adj): Having the power to concuss; relating to concussion.
- The blast produced a concussive wave.
Synonyms
- Medical Sense: Brain (as in , though this is informal).
- General Sense: Shake, jolt, agitate, vibrate violently.
Phrasal Verbs
Related Idioms
- The related noun appears in phrases like
Verb
- injure the brain; sustain a concussion
- shake violently