Search the Dictionary:
pain :
The feeling of hurt in humans and in animals that have highly developed nervous systems. Pain is a warning of imminent danger, and often causes an immediate reaction so that the person or animal can avoid further injury. For example, the instant a person feels pain when touching a flame or a hot object, he or she will jerk his or her arm away. Pain sensations are received by nerve endings found mainly in the skin. Some parts of the skin, such as the fingertips, have many more nerve receptors than other parts, such as the back of the hand. The level at which pain begins to be felt is called the pain threshold, and it varies from one individual to another. [Pain comes from the Latin word for “penalty” or “punishment.”]
