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| Date: | 1200-1300 |
| Language: | Old French |
| Origin: | peine, from Latin poena, from Greek poine 'payment, punishment' |
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pain1 S2 W2
1 [uncountable and countable] the feeling you have when part of your body hurts COLLOCATIONS 
COLLOCATIONS 
have a pain in your stomach/leg/side etc be in pain chest pain/back pain/neck pain etc severe/terrible/chronic pain sharp pain (=a short but severe pain) excruciating pain (=very severe pain) dull pain (=one that is not severe but continues for a long time) nagging pain (=one that continues for a long time and keeps bothering you) shooting pain (=a severe pain that starts in one place then quickly moves to another) ease/relieve/kill pain pain relief/control inflict pain (on somebody) labour pains (=pain felt by a woman who is starting to have a baby) aches and pains (=slight feelings of pain that are not very serious)
COLLOCATIONS have a pain in your stomach/leg/side etc be in pain chest pain/back pain/neck pain etc severe/terrible/chronic pain sharp pain (=a short but severe pain) excruciating pain (=very severe pain) dull pain (=one that is not severe but continues for a long time) nagging pain (=one that continues for a long time and keeps bothering you) shooting pain (=a severe pain that starts in one place then quickly moves to another) ease/relieve/kill pain pain relief/control inflict pain (on somebody) labour pains (=pain felt by a woman who is starting to have a baby) aches and pains (=slight feelings of pain that are not very serious)
2 [uncountable and countable] the feeling of unhappiness you have when you are sad, upset, etc :
cause (somebody) pain/inflict pain on somebody 
She hated to say the words, for fear of causing pain.
She hated to say the words, for fear of causing pain.3 to be very annoying :
be a pain (in the neck)
spoken also be a pain in the ass/arse/backside/butt not polite• There were times when Joe could be a real pain in the neck.
• It's a pain, having to go upstairs to make the coffee every time.
4 to make a special effort to do something : He's taken great pains to improve his image.
take/go to (great) pains to do something
also take pains with/over somethingHe's taken great pains to improve his image.5 to be especially careful to make sure people understand what you are saying or what you plan to do : Roy was at pains to point out that English was the only exam he'd ever failed.
be at pains to do something
Roy was at pains to point out that English was the only exam he'd ever failed.6 as a reward for something you worked to achieve - used especially when this is disappointing :
for your pains
7 at the risk of being killed as punishment, if you do not obey : Communist activity was prohibited on pain of death.
on/under pain of death
Communist activity was prohibited on pain of death.
