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# paralyse

verb (paralyse, paralyses, paralysed, paralysing)

«paralyse» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To paralyse someone is to make them lose the ability to move part or all of their body, through injury or illness. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paralyse/#m1)
2. To paralyse something is to stop it working or moving normally, as snow can paralyse a city. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paralyse/#m2)
3. To be paralysed with fear means to be so frightened that you cannot move or act. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paralyse/#m3)

### In the lessons

In science and health lessons, damage to the spine or nerves can paralyse; some spiders and snakes paralyse their prey with venom. In stories, characters are «paralysed with fear». In the news, strikes or storms paralyse transport. Phrases: «paralysed from the waist down», «paralysed with fear», «paralyse the city».

### Examples

- The accident paralysed his legs, so he uses a wheelchair. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paralyse/#x1)
- The spider's venom paralyses the fly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paralyse/#x2)
- Heavy snow paralysed the city for three days. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paralyse/#x3)
- She was paralysed with fear when she saw the bear. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paralyse/#x4)
- The power cut paralysed the trains. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paralyse/#x5)
- Some illnesses can paralyse muscles for a short time. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paralyse/#x6)
- Therein lives a poor paralysed girl; the window of her little room looks northward, the sun does not enter here. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paralyse/#x7)

### Note

British spelling «paralyse», American «paralyze». Noun «paralysis», adjective «paralysed» or «paralytic». Be respectful: people who are paralysed can live full lives; say «a person who uses a wheelchair», not unkind names.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «paralyse» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paralyse/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«paralyse» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/paralyse.html) on Mova free.