a basic bodily sensation induced by a harmful stimulus or physical disorder and characterized by physical discomfort, e.g. pricking, throbbing, or aching
mental or emotional distress
‘I believe I gave you some pain.’ ‘Does that please you?’ ‘Infinitely; I love to give pain.’ — Congreve
informal somebody or something that annoys or is a nuisance
She's a real pain
(in pl) the trouble involved or care taken in doing something
(in pl) the painful muscular contractions involved in childbirth; labour
be at pains to do something
to take special care to do something
on/under pain of
subject to penalty or punishment of
pain in the neck
informal a source of annoyance; a nuisance
[Middle English via Old French from Latin poena punishment, pain, from Greek poinē payment, penalty]