Convulsion, английский The rapid involuntary contracting and relaxing of the muscles in several parts of the body the child had convulsions. fit (note: often used in the plural.) comment: convulsions in children may be caused by brain disease such as meningitis but can also often be found at the beginning of a disease such as pneumonia which is marked by a sudden rise in body temperature. in adults, convulsions are usually associated with epilepsy.