Spas·mod·ic a.
 1. Med. Of or pertaining to spasm; consisting in spasm; occuring in, or characterized by, spasms; as, a spasmodic asthma.
 2. Soon relaxed or exhausted; convulsive; intermittent; as, spasmodic zeal or industry.
 Spasmodic croup Med., an affection of childhood characterized by a stoppage of brathing developed suddenly and without fever, and produced by spasmodic contraction of the vocal cords. It is sometimes fatal. Called also laryngismus stridulus, and childcrowing.
 Spasmodic stricture, a stricture caused by muscular spasm without structural change. See Organic stricture, under Organic.
 Stric·ture n.
 1. Strictness. [Obs.]
    A man of stricture and firm abstinence.   --Shak.
 2. A stroke; a glance; a touch. [Obs.]
 3. A touch of adverse criticism; censure.
    [I have] given myself the liberty of these strictures by way of reflection on all and every passage.   --Hammond.
 4. Med. A localized morbid contraction of any passage of the body.  Cf. Organic stricture, and Spasmodic stricture, under Organic, and Spasmodic.
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